COVID-19: Ibobi censures Govt's line of action
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 27 2020: Ex-Chief Minister Okram Ibobi has categorically stated that all the measures and policies taken up by the State Government to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic violate human rights and are bereft of any planning.

Speaking to media persons at his Babupara quarters today, Ibobi said that the policies being followed by the State Government to tackle COVID-19 are whimsical and quite ineffective.

To contain the COVID-19 pandemic is a common responsibility of all the people but the State Government has been following awkward and whimsical policies which are not practical, said the ex-Chief Minister.

If any area has been declared as a containment zone, additional manpower should be deployed and more testing centres should be opened but the Government apparently has not been doing any such thing but it seemed the Government is more interested in managing the situation for a very limited period of time, Ibobi remarked.

He warned that the State would witness a colossal disaster if the State Government continues with its awkward and adhoc policies.

O Ibobi who is also the leader of Congress Legislature Party (CLP) accused the Government of not monitoring quarantine centres where Manipuri people who returned from outside the State are quarantined.

He said that the Government never bother to see whether the quarantine centres are hygienic enough or not.

Nonetheless, he appreciated the selfless service rendered by local volunteers in running quarantine centres.

To prohibit entry and exit of people to and from a containment zone where even a single person has been tested positive for COVID-19 is a common practice in other States but no such measure was taken up in the State, Ibobi said.

Questioning the State Government's prohibition on movement of people of Thoubal district, Ibobi asked if the Government had issued any order which prohibits people of Thoubal district who are COVID-19 free from entering Manipur University, State Assembly, RIMS, JNIMS etc or is it the police who have been acting at their own fancy and whims without any Government order.

Two people of Thoubal district have died because they were not admitted in hospitals for child delivery and dialysis even though they were not infected by COVID-19, Ibobi said.

Pointing out that three family members of Health and Family Welfare Minister have been confirmed COVID-19 positive and around 10 employees of PWD have been tested positive today, the ex-Chief Minister asked whether the people of Imphal West district would be prohibited from moving around and entering hospitals as done to the people of Thoubal.

Thoubal district is ranked fifth below Imphal West, Ukhrul, Tamenglong and Kangpokpi on the chart, Ibobi pointed out.

The directionless and whimsical policies will only complicate the issue, he added.

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