Countering BJP State general secretary Prithviraj Harichandan’s statement on Covid-19 testing of all migrants returning to the State, ruling BJD on Saturday said the BJP should stop playing “cheap politics during these testing times”.
BJD Spokesperson Sasmit Patra claimed that the situation is under control in Odisha and Covid-19 testing is being conducted as per the ICMR guidelines. The BJP should follow the guidelines of its own Government at the Centre.
“The guidelines state that only testing of symptomatic persons should be done.” Dr Patra pointed out.
Stating that around one crore migrants have returned to the BJP-ruled States like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh, Patra said BJP spokespersons do not have the moral courage to ask their party CMs to undertake 100% testing of the migrants.
“When about 30-40 lakh tests have so far been done in India, do the BJP-ruled States have the capacity to test close to one crore migrant returnee?,” Patra questioned.
Earlier in the day, Harichandan alleged that the Odisha Government is not conducting test of all migrants returning to the State using the ICMR guidelines as an excuse. The ICMR guidelines never say that the State Government cannot conduct more number of tests.
“Home quarantine is not possible in rural areas. Each and every migrant returning to the State should undergo test and be allowed to go back to their respective houses only after being tested negative for the virus. Local contacts are increasing in the list of positive cases in the State and the Government is responsible for it,” Harichandan stated. He also alleged corruption in procurement of health kits and other Covid-19 equipments.