Message from Nagaland Opposition Party on COVID-19

03rd April, 2020

Dear Citizens,

Much has been said about the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and it is not in my intention to tutor any one of you on the prevailing crisis or add fuel to the existing state of perplexity. Technology has advanced so considerably in today’s world that every literate person owning a smart phone with internet connectivity can connect with the world at the tap of a finger.

As such, recapping the dos and don’ts and educating you on the COVID-19 pandemic is not the purpose here. Rather, this is a modest attempt to reach out to the people while underlining the necessity for all of us to follow precautionary measures, guidelines, instructions and directives which are being disseminated by both the Central and State Government from time to time.

For some European Nations that have already been affected by the COVID-19; as per reports, one reason for their failure to stop the spread of the Corona Virus was that their Society at large was too slow to recognise the threat posed by the virus, too slow to get diagnostic testing in place, too slow to come up with precautionary measures and too slow to realise the importance of physical distancing.

Today, let us learn from this. Let us learn, think and act on time. Let us not be too slow for anything: whether it is the present day Government or the general public at large, let us take the right action at the right time.

It is of paramount importance that the State Government comes up with prudent and pragmatic measures to handle COVID-19 instances in case of an outbreak in any District of the State.

Equally important is the necessity for the Government to frame immediate policies to secure the lives of front-line workers like Health professionals, Police and Home-Guard personnel, Magistrates and Government Officials on duty etc. who are bound to directly deal with affected or suspected people in Quarantine Centres, Hospital and Health Centres.

By the grace of God, Nagaland has reported zero COVID-19 cases so far but we cannot forget that we are still directly connected to two affected neighbouring States viz. Assam and Manipur and even shares a 215 kms international border with Myanmar. We simply cannot afford to become complacent. We must be alert even as we utilise the available time at hand to prepare ourselves and to remain a zero COVID-19 State even in the days to come.

Dear fellow citizens, I take this opportunity to urge every one of you to co-operate with the Government in the fight against COVID-19. Whether one likes it or not; if we fail to contain this deadly pandemic at the end of the day, sicknesses and death may not spare any one of us irrespective of political party affiliation, race, creed, religion or social strata.

In this battle against COVID-19, there are several individuals and groups across the Country who are contributing generously towards the Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM CARES Fund) and also towards the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund (CMRF) in the State which is highly commendable.

Not everyone can contribute in monetary terms- however, everyone can contribute in saving the Society by staying at home. Therefore, choose to stay at home if you love yourself and your people.

Let’s together make Nagaland a better place to live in. Stay home, stay safe, save lives. God bless.

(T.R Zeliang)
Leader Of Opposition, Nagaland.