Goa: Wary of Covid surge, BJP cancels public meetings

PANAJI: In view of the rising Covid-19 cases in the state, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)on Thursday canceled all its public meetings till January 13. It had planned two major public meetings every day during this period at various locations in all 40 constituencies.


Speaking to TOI, BJP state president Sadanand Shet

Tanavade

said that as there was a rise in

Covid

cases, the party has decided not to put the public at risk of getting infected by holding meetings. “We don’t want to get blamed for Covid spread,” he said.

Since last week, BJP had started major public meetings in all constituencies to galvanize its cadre. “We invite around 1,000 to 1,500 people at public meeting, but more than 2,500 attend. The crowd is uncontrollable, and hence we decided to cancel all our meetings till the situation normalises,” he said.

Tanavade said that instead of campaigning through public meetings, political leaders and candidates will reach out to people through door-to-door campaigns. “We will also hold small corner meetings to reach out to the people and convince them to vote for BJP,” he said.

The BJP state president said that they will even ask national leaders not to visit the state till January 13 as they have cancelled the public meetings. BJP will once again review the Covid situation in the state before deciding to hold major public meetings.

State health officials had said that third wave has already struck the state from December 28 onwards and there has been a continuous rise in cases.

The state government has shut schools and colleges considering the rise in cases. Chief minister Pramod Sawant had said that the state government is considering imposition of night curfew. The

task force committee

on Covid management on Monday had decided to implement the recommendation of expert committee on virus management, which includes a night curfew.