A man from India’s Kerala state has called upon Indian Prime MinisterNarendra Modi to immediately stop his “wrong, shameful act” of putting hispicture on Covid-19 vaccination cards.
A court in Kerala is due to hear a petition next week from the unhappycitizen who does not want Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s photograph on hisCovid-19 vaccine certificate.
The man, known as Peter M, wants a new certificate without Mr Modi’spicture because, he says, “it violates my fundamental rights”. Peter M is a62-year-old right to information activist and a member of India’s mainopposition Congress party.
Peter told the media on the phone from his home in Kottayam district, “Byputting his picture on my certificate, he’s intruding into the privatespace of citizens. It’s unconstitutional and I’m requesting the honourableprime minister to stop this wrong, shameful act immediately.”
“It’s inappropriate in a democracy and of absolutely no use to the nationor any individual,” he added.
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Besides the personal details of the individual, vaccine certificates issuedby the Indian health ministry carry Mr Modi’s photograph along with twomessages in English and local languages.
In August, junior health minister Bharati Pravin Pawar told parliament thatthe photo and the quotes were included “in larger public interest” – toencourage people to follow Covid-appropriate behaviour even afterinoculation.
