After criticisms from several corners, especially from members of the public, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma today defended his appearance at the Republic Day celebrations yesterday, saying that his presence there did not go against Covid protocols.
On the morning of January 21, Meghalaya’s 50th statehood day, Sangma tested positive for Covid-19, which he announced on social media. His tweet stated that he had “mild symptoms” and that he would isolate himself for the “required time”.
The state government’s own Covid protocols, updated only this month, insist that positive symptomatic patients isolate for seven days and those who are asymptomatic should do so for five days.
Sangma skipped the golden jubilee event but turned up in Polo Ground for the Republic Day celebrations. Apart from that, he also attended office the day prior, which was just four days since he announced that he tested positive.
Today the CM went on the offensive, describing critics of his behaviour as “petty”. This despite the fact that his government has gone after members of the public for not adhering to protocols in the past, threatening to slap them with provisions under the Meghalaya Epidemic Diseases Act.
“As a CM I have huge responsibilities and work to do and this is work that needs to be done but I’ve always followed protocols, I’ve been somebody who is always careful,” he stated seemingly oblivious to the plight of lakhs of Meghalayans whose work and lives have been disrupted and lost by the Covid-19 pandemic. “For anybody to question my integrity and entire commitment is quite sad and I think those people questioning me have nothing better to do.”
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister added to the level of public indignation after he shared a photo of him receiving a birthday gift from Governor Satya Pal Malik today, still only six days since testing positive. Malik had tested positive for the coronavirus last Tuesday but, in contrast to Sangma, did not attend the Republic Day function.
The Hynñiewtrep Integrated Territorial Organisation (HITO) said they are disgusted and sad to see violation of protocols by those responsible for drafting them.
“As you are aware of the fines imposed upon the public who violated the protocols of COVID-19 by the district administrations, however, we are yet to hear fines imposed upon those running the government,” HITO said in a statement today.
They said that random flouting of COVID-19 protocols was committed not only by the ministers but also by the Chief Minister on various occasion across the state.
HITO criticised the Chief Minister and said that just for his political mileage he is not only playing with the life of the public but through his function he is helping in spreading the Covid -19 virus. “Recently the Central Government has warned the State Government in connection with the spreading of new variant of Covid-19 in our State, but unfortunately even then the Chief Minister without any valid reasons attended the Republic Day Celebration at Polo ground and in the process we belief that he is helping in the spread of Covid 19 in an around the Republic Day function premises,” the organisation added.
Urging the district administration to take action against them too HITO said, “We belief law is for everyone and no one is above it.”
