A day after Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan claimed that Kerala was in the forefront in controlling Covid-19 pandemic and was ahead of other South Indian States like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, a double mishap struck the God’s Own Country.
Kerala woke up on Sunday morning to the news that a Covid-19 patient in Aranmula in Pathanamthitta district was raped by the ambulance driver. The predator Nowfal was an accused in a murder case but managed to get the job because of his political god fathers in the ruling CPI(M).
While political Kerala went on a turmoil with activists of BJYM and Youth Congress undertaking marches to Government offices, Health Minister KK Shylaja expressed shock over the incident and ordered the sacking of the ambulance driver.
The day ended with the Health Minister’s release that the State diagnosed 3,082 new persons with Covid-19, the highest figure to be registered in Kerala till date. Out of this, 2,844 cases were through local transmission, a clear signal that Kerala is not a safe destination for any kind of journeys. With 11 patients succumbing to the pandemic, the total number of deaths till date in the State stood at 347.
B Gopalakrishnan, a senior BJP leader said Kerala has become the most unsafe place in the country for women. “A fortnight back, a 75 year old woman was brutally raped at Ernakulam which brought back the memories of Norbhaya incident in New Delhi. I am frightened what is in store for my mothers, sisters and daughters,” said a visibly upset Gopalakrishnan.
BJP president K Surendran demanded the immediate resignation of health minister Shylaja owning up moral responsibility for the incident. “How come a murderer was employed as ambulance driver? How come a woman patient was sent to hospital without any lady helpers,” asked Surendran.