State Congress spokesperson Ashok Samal has blamed the Union Government for the spread of coronavirus in the country and demanded that all households be supplied with essential commodities at their doorsteps by the State Government during the lockdown.
"The coronavirus was first seen in China in November 2019 and subsequently it spread to other countries. By now, thousands of people have died. The virus came and spread in our country as the Union Government remained callous between December 2019 and March 15, 2020. Had foreign people been screened at airports and ports, the alarming situation would not have occurred in our country," said Samal.
He also blamed the Union Government for allowing a Tablighi Jamaat to be held at Nizamuddin in New Delhi, which turned a hotspot of COVID-19, from March 10.
Samal said common people have been facing difficulties due to the long lockdown period. While gatherings occurred in markets after the 48-hour shutdown in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, police assaulted many people on the charge of not maintaining social distancing. While the State Government imposed lockdown without any preparation, people are being beaten inhumanly in streets, alleged Samal.
He demanded that the Government take all steps to supply essential commodities like ration, vegetables, meat and medicines at doorsteps of people. He warned that lingering of lockdown would have an adverse impact on the economy.