Jharkhand Health Minister Banna Gupta on Wednesday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting him to award Bharat Ratna to scientists who manufactured the indigenous COVID-19 vaccines.

He said that in view of the possibility of the third wave of Covid-19, Jharkhand along with the country is also committed to fighting the virus under the prime minister’s leadership.

Gupta in the letter stated that life and business were affected due to the global pandemic but due to the invention of the indigenous vaccine and its phased rollout, most people were able to protect themselves to a great extent. “Due to the immunity developed by vaccination, they were successful in reducing the pandemic mal-affects and introducing a self-reliant India on the world stage,” he said.

As the health minister of Jharkhand, Banna said everyone should express their gratitude to the scientists of the country who invented the indigenous vaccine in a short span of time. “For such patriotism, outstanding service and extraordinary work, those scientists need to be honoured with Bharat Ratna on Independence Day,” he said in the letter.

On Tuesday, Jharkhand said it is facing a shortage of COVID-19 vaccines with a state health department official saying that the state is left with just one day’s stock of COVID-19 vaccine.

“Jharkhand is left with 82,652 vials of vaccine which is sufficient enough for today only. As of now, there is no vaccine for tomorrow. We are having talks with the central government. Hopefully, we will get some information regarding this by late evening,” Siddharth Tripathi, Senior Nodal officer of Information, Education and Communication (IEC) wing of Health Department said.

“This would also ensure adherence to the constitutional mandate of equity, equality, and reasonable opportunity for all the citizens,” he added