India, July 5 -- Union Minister Pralhad Joshi on Friday launched a scathing attack on Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, accusing him and the Congress party of undermining India's scientific community by casting doubt on the safety of indigenously developed COVID-19 vaccines.

Addressing the media in Bengaluru, Joshi said, "By questioning the efficacy of vaccines that saved crores of lives, the Congress is not just opposing Prime Minister Modi, but is also insulting the very scientists who helped the country fight a global pandemic."

The sharp response comes days after Siddaramaiah expressed concerns about a spike in heart attack deaths in Karnataka's Hassan district, where 22 people reportedly died of sudden cardiac arrests over 40 ...