The Congress on Monday said the Narendra Modi government’s decision to allow states to directly deal with global pharmaceutical companies without giving formal approval to their vaccines showed they were “callous and cruel”.

While Moderna had refused to deal with Punjab, the Delhi government on Monday said even Pfizer did the same.

Rahul Gandhi tweeted: “The Centre needs to procure vaccines and distribution be left to states — then only vaccination can reach villages. Why can’t the Central Government understand this simple logic?”

Former finance minister P. Chidambaram said: “Is there any surprise that Pfizer and Moderna have refused to deal with states (Punjab, Delhi) and will deal only with the Central Government? The Central Government’s direction to the states to procure vaccines directly from the manufacturers abroad was a cynical move. If Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have not yet been ‘approved for use’ by the Central Government, how will they deal with or sell to the states?”

Chidambaram added: “The Government has rebuffed our advice as well as the suggestion of the courts, that procurement of vaccines must be centralised. The Modi Government is callous and cruel. Meanwhile, the shortage of vaccines will continue and the people will suffer and thousands will die. What a tragedy!”