Opp Cong attacks CM Rawat for remark that cases in U’khand may rise to 25k

Dehradun

: Reacting to CM Trivendra Singh Rawat’s recent statement during a webinar that “with over 2.5 lakh stranded people returning from across the country, there is a possibility that the state may have to deal with over 25,000 Covid-19-positive cases", former chief minister and senior Congress leader Harish Rawat termed the comment as “an immature one which can spread panic among people.”

The CM had made the statement last week in response to a question during the webinar that was attended by several members of the Uttarakhand diaspora.

He had said, "If around 2.5 lakh stranded people return to Uttarakhand, we can assume that around 25,000 of these would be infected. Of these, 5,000 people would require hospitalisation and 500 might also need ventilators."

However, former CM Harish Rawat termed the public projection of these numbers as “unnecessary and bound to create panic.” "The CM’s statement and its timing, both are very immature. Instead of encouraging people to be safe, he is scaring them by quoting such numbers."

He also accused the BJP government of being ill-prepared to handle the migrant influx. “People who are returning from other states are just being made to undergo a basic health check up and then they are being sent to their villages for panchayat quarantine where gram pradhan and ASHA workers, who are least equipped to deal with this outbreak, are being given the duty to enforce their quarantine."

Doon-based Activist Anoop Nautiyal also questioned the state government’s preparedness regarding the health infrastructure to tackle 25,000 positive cases.

Meanwhile, Darshan Singh Rawat, CM’s media OSD, said that the CM’s statement was misconstrued and clarified that he was replying to a question about the state’s preparedness to handle the influx of over 2 lakh migrants.

"The CM meant that even if over 2 lakh migrants return and 25,000 are found Covid-19-positive, then the state has made sufficient arrangements to take care of them," he said, adding that the CM’s remarks have been blown out of proportion by those having a "negative mindset.”