A day after the Congress lashed out at the ruling BJP for flouting COVID-19 safety norms and allegedly allowing a BJP MLA who was tested positive, to attend the inauguration of Atal Tunnel, the Himachal Government on Wednesday claimed the government had ensured that all protocols were strictly followed during the visit of Prime Minister for the inauguration function on October 3.
Health Minister Rajiv Saizal and Forest Minister Rakesh Pathania also hit back at the Congress leaders saying that the opposition is doing cheap politics on COVID-19 situation and it is unfortunate that they are blaming BJP leaders for the spread of this virus.
The Congress leaders had a day before demanded that an FIR should be lodged against BJP MLA Surender Shourie for hiding the information that he was tested positive for COVID-19 before the event.
Congress MLA Vikramaditya had also demanded a probe into the alleged lapses on the part of the Health Department by hiding the fact that MLA Shourie had tested COVID positive, ahead of PM Modi’s visit to Manali for the inauguration of Atal Tunnel.
Reacting to this, the state Cabinet Ministers said that this kind of statement by Congress leaders is completely unfair and irresponsible. They said that all the guidelines of the protocol were strictly followed by the State Government during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. COVID-19 test was done for all persons who attended the programme at all venues. The test results of the COVID test were shared with SPG and after clearance, persons tested COVID negative were allowed to join the programme at all venues. Those who were tested positive were isolated under Standard Operating Procedure, they added.
Claiming that no rules were flouted, a government’s spokesperson said, “The Banjar MLA showed no visible symptoms of COVID-19. However, he was isolated immediately after his test results came positive. He did not attend any event on October 3 or met any dignitary after his results came positive. All other dignitaries who were present in the event were tested at the same time when MLA Banjar was tested. They were tested negative and were allowed to attend the main events, the spokesperson added.
Under attack from the opposition, MLA Surender Shourie had in a Facebook post on Tuesday said that he may take legal action against those trying to tarnish his and the State Government’s image for their “selfish political motives”.
ANOTHER MINISTER IS COVID POSITIVE
Himachal Pradesh Urban Development Minister Suresh Bhardwaj was tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday. The 68-year-old four-time Shimla BJP MLA was tested positive at Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) here. Bhardwaj is the third Himachal Pradesh minister and ninth MLA in the 68-member state Assembly to have contracted the virus.
Earlier, Power Minister Sukhram Chaudhary and Jal Shakti Minister Mahender Singh Thakur had tested positive for COVID-19. Both the ministers have recovered from the virus.
In a statement, Bhardwaj said that he has been home quarantined since October 2 and tested COVID-19 positive on Wednesday. The Minister said that he would be under home quarantine as he is not experiencing any complications. He said that his wife was hospitalised and has tested positive for COVID-19. His elder son was tested COVID-19 negative while the younger son had tested positive on October 5. “I was already isolated at home for the last 5 days. I will join the office as soon as I recover from COVID-19,” he added.
Notably, the state has so far reported 16343 positive cases and 224 COVID-19 fatalities. There were 2862 active cases in the state on Wednesday while 13232 patients have so far recovered from the deadly virus.