On first COVID-19 positive case from Nagaland :: Statement from NPF

Kohima, April 13 2020

1. From the day one of the outbreak of the news of the spread of Corona virus (COVID-19), the Naga People’s Front (NPF) have without mincing words and without any second thought assured the Government of the day of its full support and solidarity to fight and contain the spread of Corona virus (COVID-19) in the State.

And it will continue to support the Government so long as the Government put in serious effort in containing the dreaded pandemic. However, the PDA Government have been only proudly claiming that the State is fully prepared although in its real sense nothing is installed and instituted on the ground to effectively combat the pandemic.

2. We have also come across in some of the news item that, some consignment of medical kits and equipment has been transported in the State through a special chartered plane which infact gave us a sigh of relief in the midst of fear and doubts. But the bigger question is whether those medical kits and equipment are of international/national standard or a sub-standard one’s?

Even if the supply of protective kits and medical equipment’s are in large quantities, if it is not a quality product/stuffs then the safety of the frontlines workers is still at risk.

The very fact that the gentleman from Dimapur who has been confirmed to have been infected by Corona Virus might have also gone through the usual procedure of screening in the Airport/Railway station when he landed/alighted but could not be detected is a solid ground to cast aspersion on the medical kits and equipment’s supplied and used in the State. The Government of the day ought to clear this doubt in order to boost the morale of the frontline workers in particular and to ease the tension of the general public at large.

3. The already confirmed case of corona virus of a person hailing from Dimapur is a case in point where Government of the day has proven themselves that they are not seriously and effectively handling the present pandemic which is extremely disturbing and worrisome. Despite of getting all kinds of support and co-operation from the entire citizens of Nagaland including the Opposition Party, the Government of the day could not take care of one single patient who was a suspect and whose case have been finally confirmed from Guwahati.

God forbid; in case the State is faced with more of such confirmed cases how actually the State Government is going to curb the situation. The NPF is not convinced of the explanation given by the State Government on the confirmed case of corona virus of the gentleman from Dimapur. It is an acknowledged fact that the spread of the present pandemic is mostly link to travelling from one Country to another and from one State to another.

Knowing-fully well that the gentleman from Dimapur who is already confirmed to have been infected by corona virus has a travel history to other States and cities in the recent past, the Govt. casually handled the case which is utter carelessness on the part of the Government. By carelessly handling this particular case the Government has put the lives of thousands of citizens of Dimapur under tension.

The Government claim of fully prepared to face any eventuality appears to be only propaganda rather than providing the most required medical facilities. Another shocking aspect of this particular episode is an Hon’ble Minister from other State making the first announcement instead of our own Government revealing the whole truth to its the citizens.

We are indeed thankful to the Hon’ble Health Minister of Assam for showing its utmost concern towards the patient but at the same time it is a pity on the part of the PDA Govt. the way the are handling and managing the present situation.

Infact, it is extremely embarrassing that the State Govt. could not procured even a testing machines/lab even after elapsed of almost two months and the said poor fellow has to be ultimately referred to another State for treatment.

Should other State refuse to admit and treat the patient from Nagaland what option do we have? It is already in public domain the amount of financial assistance that the State Government have received so far both from Central Government and through the magnanimous contribution of various individuals and organization and therefore the Government has sufficient fund to purchase/install a testing machine/lab of an international standard if they are really serious.

Through this particular episode it is now difficult to take it for granted what the PDA Government has been telling the citizens of Nagaland all through this while on the so-called preparedness to tackle COVID-19.

4. It is also confirmed that the Jain Community in Dimapur celebrated Mahavir Jayanti at Marwari Patti on 6th April 2020 when the lockdown was still on in full swing. Nagaland being predominantly Christian, a Day like Palm Sunday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday as well as Christmas etc. are absolutely a significant occasion where the Christian observe such day/occasion solemnly either in the Church or in some form of religious gathering.

Nevertheless, the entire Christian communities in Nagaland choose to obey and abide by the Government decision to maintain social distance by closing down even the Churches and observing the Palm Sunday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday at Home. The question is if the Christian can be retrained what has prompted the Government to allow the Jain Community to have social/religious gathering during the lockdown period?

5. The NPF has still many more questions to raise over the way the Government is tackling the present pandemic but it will come out slowly basing on the factual report from Party workers on the ground. For the time being, the NPF suggest the following:

(a). Since the PDA Govt. has issued statements after statement assuring the citizens of Nagaland that the Government is fully prepared to tackle COVID-19 and with that assurance the general public have extended full cooperation for the past 21 (twenty one) days of lockdown, now the total lockdown may be relaxed w.e.f. 15th April 2020 within the State with some regulations in placed on the ground.

A) Particularly, only movement within the districts for the time being.

(B). Inter-district movement of vehicle and pedestrians may hold on for a week’s time and special medical team may be assigned to focus more on Dimapur district.

(C). Schools may remain closed till the end of April 2020 and the lost classes/days due to the present pandemic may be recovered by shortening the duration of summer vacation.

(D). The Airport, Railway Station and Inter-State Bus/Taxi terminals may be sealed till the end of the April 2020.

Issued by:
Press Bureau
Naga People’s Front,
Central Headquarters,
Kohima: Nagaland.