NPF, others concern over handling of pandemic

Against the backdrop of several returnees from Chennai being tested COVID-19 positive and the alleged negligence of the government in sending the returnees to Tuensang without ascertaining the test results, state primary opposition party – Naga People’s Front (NPF) and other organisations have expressed concern over the way the government of the day has been handling the pandemic.

NPF: Naga People’s Front (NPF) has expressed concern over the increase of COVID-19 positive cases in Nagaland during the past few days, and has expressed solidarity to the frontline workers and encouraged them to take up the challenges ahead with zeal and determination. 

In a press statement, NPF press bureau also asked the citizens of Nagaland to be magnanimous and sensitive while rendering opinions on the stranded returnees/citizens.

The Party has urged the public to avoid stigmatization against those returnees and stranded citizens as social stigmatization against them would only invite more social unrest.

NPF has also questioned the motive of the PDA Government in sending the returnees from other states/cities to Tuensang when the government was fully aware that the test results were still awaited.

“This is an utter negligence on the part of the present PDA Government and they must take full responsibility instead of justifying it as communication gap,” read the release.

The opposition party said the government of the day must realize that the citizens of Nagaland cannot be taken for a ride, anymore, and that no amount of justification and explanation would convince the intelligentsia of the citizens of Nagaland.

NPF accused the government of “intentionally endangering thousands of lives of those of our citizens who are unfortunately in-accessible to modern medical facilities”. 

It said the sudden announcement of the PDA government to install BSL-2 only after the result of one of the returnees who were deported to Tuensang tested positive was nothing but a “politics of appeasement”, which clearly reflected “poor governance and very, very cheap politics”. 

The Party asked how long it would take to make BSL-2 at Tuensang operation when the BSL-2 installed at Dimapur has not even become functional even after so many days of its announcement. 

NPF also questioned the reliability of BSL machines and asked the government to assure its citizens the credentials of the BSL manufacturers and company that deals with such medical equipment.

The party has also questioned the intention of the government to send all COVID-19 positive cases to their respective districts. 

“What is the logic behind such decisions when the government is yet to provide medical facilities and safety equipment to the various district hospitals?” read the release.

NPF asked whether the government was trying to abdicate its responsibilities to give proper care and treatment to the positive cases from a place/location where proper medical facilities are readily available.

It then accused the government of miserably mishandling the pandemic from day one with false claim of preparedness. It said the “so called fully prepared” claim by the government has been fully exposed with the Tuensang case, which it said has further vindicated the observation and opinion of NPF.

NPF said the views expressed by the Kohima Village Council were in fact a direct reflection of how unprepared the PDA government was in tackling the present pandemic. However, NPF said it has also drawn a new line of debate in tackling the present pandemic because it has been further polarized on tribal lines adding “it is not healthy at all if our society has to grow as one people”. 

Reiterating that the longer PDA Government continues to stay in power the more hardship it would be for the citizens of Nagaland, NPF asked the present government to pave way for an alternative arrangement.

ENSUC: Eastern Nagaland Students’ Union Chümoukedima (ENSUC) has demanded that chief minister to immediately initiate the disciplinary action against officials of state government involved in the “deliberate mismanagement” that led to a COVID-19 positive being sent to Tuensang along with the other passengers. 

In a press statement, ENSUC president, Asuthong Janger and general secretary, Kemichila Phom said the officials have “blatantly misuse” the SOP outlaid by the state government thereby could be “considered intimate discriminatory, jeopardizing the lives of its people who are lacking in every basic infrastructural and human resource development”. 

In an event of a community spread, the union said the government should be held solely responsible.  It has also demanded the government to immediately send sufficient doctors and nurses to all the four districts under ENPO jurisdiction and to promptly set up BSL-3 laboratory and supply the necessary equipments as committed by the state government.

ZRSU: Zunheboto Range Students’ Union (ZRSU) has vehemently condemned the negligence of the state government in sending returnees to Tuensang without ascertaining COVID-19 test results, thereby risking the eventuality of spreading dreaded virus.

In a press release, ZRSU president, Nito V. Zhimomi warned that the state government would be held responsible if such careless incident lead to “mass transmission” of COVID-19.

Meanwhile, the union has appealed the state government to diligently implement every possible measure efficiently to prevent and contain COVID-19 without dereliction.  ZRSU has also asked the government to send returnees to Zunheboto only after confirmation of COVID19 test results.