Social organisation Bharatiya Bikash Parishad on Friday lodged an FIR with the Airport police here against Union Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan and Ashwini Vaishnaw and other BJP members alleging that they flouted the Covid protocols and held a public meeting at the city airport on August 19.
The Parishad alleged that 100 BJP leaders and thousands of party workers jostled for place at the meeting in which the Covid regulations issued by the Central Government were not followed. Most of them were not wearing masks and social distancing took a back seat.
As per the SOP issued by the Odisha Special Relief Commissioner (SRC), not more than 25 persons can congregate on any occasion till September 1, 2021. Besides, political rallies are also banned. But the Ministers and the BJP members violated the law. No permission was sought from the Biju Patnaik International Airport authorities. This meeting could act as a super spreader event during the current wave of Covid-19 in the capital city as well as the State. So, action should be taken against all of them for violating the DM and Epidemic Act. The Ministers, who should set an example for the people to follow the Covid norms, violated the rules themselves. Action should be taken and the Ministers should be arrested to uphold the law of the land, the Parishad demanded.