Serum Institute of India CEO Adar Poonawalla has been forced to leave India due to the increasing number of threats he and his family were receiving from vested interest groups in the country. The threats to Poonawalla became particularly striking after the Modi government announced its vaccine liberalisation and universalisation programme. As state governments and powerful individuals in the country started demanding vaccines for themselves haphazardly, Adar Poonawalla was left with no choice but to fly off to London. The most startling revelation, however, was made by India Today journalist Rahul Kanwal.
Rahul Kanwal, while covering the results, in a rather lengthy slip of the tongue, revealed how Adar Poonawalla’s SII factory in Pune was gheraoed by Shiv Sena goons. “…And I actually saw this. He (Adar Poonawalla) sent me some videos of some Shiv Sena locals showing up outside his factory, giving him the choicest of gaalis (abuses) and saying ‘humko pehle do’ (give us the vaccines first) and this is bizarre.”
https://twitter.com/NonsensicalNemo/status/1388711409379201024?s=20
In an interview with The Times recently, Poonawalla was quoted as saying, “Threats is an understatement. The level of expectations and aggression is really unprecedented. It’s overwhelming. Everyone feels they should get the vaccine. They can’t understand why anyone else should get it before them.” The SII CEO detailed how calls received by him drift in a very different direction from where they began, to the effect that Poonwalla said, “They are saying if you don’t give us the vaccine, it’s not going to be good…It’s not the foul language, it’s the tone. It’s the implication of what they might do if I don’t comply. It’s taking control.”
Earlier, TFI had reported how, due to the nature of threats being received by Adar Poonawalla, the Ministry of Home Affairs was forced to issue orders granting him Y-category security cover across India. The Y-category security usually comprises 11 personnel, including one or two commandoes and police personnel. Adar Poonawalla has been targeted on social media by mascots of liberalism for what they think is an exorbitant pricing scheme of the Serum Institute of India, which had previously announced that it would sell Covishield vaccines to state governments at the rate of Rs. 400 per vial. However, keeping in mind the liberal opposition to the announcement, Adar Poonawalla decided to reduce the initial price by ₹100 to ₹300 per vial.
Now that it has come out in the open how Shiv Sena’s goons were harassing Serum Institute of India, its employees and Adar Poonawalla, the party supremo indeed owes an explanation to the people of the country. If his party is responsible for SII looking for alternate venues of vaccine production, instead of expanding within India, the Shiv Sena must be brought to the book. They are not only making Maharashtra an unfavourable business destination but are also imperilling India’s Covid-19 vaccination campaign.
What if SII decides to close the production. The entire world, not just India, will come to its Knees and begging.
Shiv Sena goons, including Thackery, should be taught a lesson they never forget.
Poonawala is right in moving out of India. The centre must have given protection. Time to book the state Govt and boot them out
Why the SC is not taking up this serious case suo-moto ? This is more serious allegation than the haftar vasooli complaint, as this involves threat to an industrialist’s life, as also trying to stall the vaccine production at this critical juncture? Will the SC wake up and arrest all those involved?
Those who are indulging in this type of threat to the owner staff of the facility making covid jabs for the country to save them from this pandemic should be dealt with stringent punishment otherwise poonawala will have to shut his plant and move away from this business and all know without injection of covid-19 the things will further go out of hand
Be a responsible citizen and let the company make more vaccine to cater to all Indians
The threats obviously were not limited to certain individuals getting the vaccines because that is something those individuals could have managed at a peripheral/distribution level easily. They were definitely related to certain sections of population to get the vaccines on priority for the purpose of political one-upmanship. This an be a potential reason for a breakdown of the law and order situation.
SHAME on us. SHAME on us ALL.
Probably the largest private sector employer in the country has explosives placed outside his home, by A GOVT SERVANT, believe it or not.
The largest vaccine producer in the world, and someone who is going to save our families’ lives, is HOUNDED OUT OF THE COUNTRY.
Folks, we deserve what we get – we are a shameless people, and a country with ZERO GRATITUDE.
Horrible ! Simply Horrible !!
But Why is our othewise calm ” Nation Wants to Know” going dumb on such important issue ? What about other National Channels keeping practically no coverage. Shame on them !!
Shame on Maharashtra CM . It is high time he should QUIT !!