Covid Protocol: Controversy over Centre Seeking to Impose Restrictions on Congress “Bharat Jodo Yatra”
Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Dec 21: A huge political controversy has broken out as the Centre apparently seems to be trying to restrict the Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s “Bharat Jodo Yatra” advising the people joining it to “strictly follow the Covd-19 protocol” even when no protocol is in place.
Even after a high-level review meeting of the Coronavirus situation in the country on Wednesday chaired by the union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya, the government refrained from announcing any Covid protocol except issuing a general advice to the people to use masks in crowded places. The meeting did not even discussed the measures need to be taken to keep a check on people coming from abroad, particularly the countries like China and the United States where the Covid surge was unnerving the authorities.
But Mandaviya wrote a letter to Rahul Gandhi and the Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot to “strictly follow the Covid protocols” during the Bharat Jodo Yatra which on Wednesday entered Haryana from Rajasthan.
“Follow the COVID guidelines strictly during Bharat Jodo Yatra which is going on in Rajasthan. Use of masks-sanitiser should be implemented. Only vaccinated people should participate,” the Health Minister said. He also advised the Congress leader to suspend the Yatra if it was not possible to implement the protocols. “If following COVID protocol is not possible then the Bharat Jodo Yatra be postponed in the national interest, taking note of the public health emergency,” the letter further stated.
Mandaviya gave reference to a letter written to him by two BJP MPs from Rajasthan PP Chaudhary and Nihal Chand “expressing concerns over guidelines not being followed.” The reason forwarded by them for their concern is said to be the COVID-19 positive diagnosis of Himachal Pradesh’s newly elected Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu after participating in the Rajasthan leg of the Yatra and the building up of a massive COVID19 wave in China.
The Congress communication chief Jairam Ramesh, in a statement said, “BJP MPs from Rajasthan wrote about following Covid protocols after the Yatra met with enormous success in their State. “Parliament is meeting normally. Masks are no longer compulsory anywhere including on flights. BJP has taken out yatras in Rajasthan and Karnataka. There has been no advisory from the Centre to States of late, except the one issued yesterday on genome sequencing,” Mr. Ramesh said.
He also accused the Narendra Modi Government of delaying the imposition of a Covid lockdown by a week in March 2020 “to enable the toppling of the Congress Govt in Madhya Pradesh.” “Public health is far too serious an issue on which to play party politics. If there is a protocol for gatherings Bharat Jodo Yatra will abide by it undoubtedly,” added Mr. Ramesh.
“I want to ask the BJP if Prime Minister Modi followed COVID protocols during Gujarat polls? I think Mansukh Mandaviya doesn’t like Rahul Gandhi ji’s Bharat Jodo Yatra but the people are liking and joining it. Mandaviya has deployed to divert public’s attention,” Congress leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said.
His Lok Sabha colleague and party chief whip Manickam Tagore described the Health Minister’s as a sign of “nervousness.” “The government seems to be nervous because of the response the Yatra has received,” Mr. Tagore said adding, “Our Bharat Yatris are all double vaccinated.”
Reacting to the Congress criticising the government for singling out “Bharat Jodo Yatra” to impose restrictions, Mandaviya went back to the BJP’s standing policy of attacking the “one family.” “I cannot neglect my duty of stopping potential Covid spread just because one family perhaps believes it’s above the rules… No one is entitled to special treatment.” He claimed “several people” have caught the virus after participating in the Yatra — citing Himachal Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu as an example.
The Congress, accusing the BJP of hypocrisy, has said, “We will certainly follow whatever protocol is put in place”. India has no mask mandate at present and has removed other restrictions, too, over the past year.
“It’s my duty to ensure Covid doesn’t spread in the country. If someone thinks how can a minister question them (Rahul Gandhi), what can I do about that mindset? Questioning me is like obstructing me from doing my duty”: Mandaviya tweeted after the review meeting, which, however, did not announce any Covid protocol.
“The Yatra has dented the propaganda the BJP spreads through godi (pliant) media,” Adhir Ranjan said, “But now Rahul Gandhi is all over social media. The Yatra is being talked about, it’s making a massive impact. That’s why the Modi government has deployed (Mansukh) Mandaviya to use any excuse and try to turn people against the Yatra,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Covid vaccine manufacturer Serum Institute of India (SII) CEO Adar Poonawalla on Wednesday asked the people not to panic because of India’s “excellent vaccination coverage and track record.” He, also at the same time, urged the people to adhere to the guidelines set by the Government of India and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
“The news of rising COVID cases coming out of China is concerning, we need not panic given our excellent vaccination coverage and track record. We must continue to trust and follow the guidelines set by the Government of India and the union health and family welfare ministry,” tweeted Poonawalla.
