The Giridih district administration that had sent BJP MP from Unnao Uttar Pradesh, Sakshi Maharaj on 14-day quarantine on Saturday released him on Sunday. Maharaj who was released from quarantine in the afternoon left for New Delhi from Dhanbad by train.

The BJP MP was released from quarantine after his corona report came negative. Maharaj, the firebrand BJP leader who is known for controversial remarks, after getting freed from quarantine attacked the Hemant Soren government.  He said, “The State Government had sent me to 14 day quarantine with ulterior motives. The State Government acted against me with bad intentions, sending me to quarantine,” he said.

The BJP MP, who was on a day long visit to Giridih to see his ailing mother, was asked to stay back there in quarantine for 14 days as per the state government’s Covid norms. Maharaj was staying at Shanti Bhawan in Giridih district, where he had come to attend a programme on Friday.

A team of district officials headed by Giridih SDO Prerna Dixit stopped the MP’s car near Pirtand police station while he was going to Dhanbad to board the Delhi-bound Rajdhani Express. The SDO’s order came in for severe criticism from senior BJP party leaders and the party had even planned a protest against what they call as illegal quarantine of BJP MP.

Giridih deputy commissioner Rahul Kumar Sinha said anyone can come to Jharkhand but has to stay quarantined for 14 days. “As per government guidelines, Sakshi Maharaj has been quarantined for the next 14 days at Shanti Bhawan Ashram where he had come,” Sinha said, adding that he was following instructions of the state’s chief secretary and secretary of the disaster management department.

BJP leaders in the state also condemned the “high-handedness” of the JMM-led State Government. State BJP president Deepak Prakash said, “The State Government’s move to send BJP MP on 14 day quarantine is politically motivated. The State Government on earlier occasions too had sent BJP leaders returning from New Delhi to quarantine while on other hand, the State Government rules are different for its leaders.”

MP of Dhanbad P.N. Singh said the Giridih district administration was politically motivated. “The JMM government is double-faced. Whenever it gets a chance, it quarantines BJP leaders. But the government never touches the Congress or JMM leaders. Umang Singhar, co-in-charge of Jharkhand Pradesh Congress, had visited Giridih recently. Why was he not quarantined by the administration?” he said.