SHILLONG: Even as Chief Minister Conrad Sangma made a dash for Manipur and then to Delhi to save the NPP-BJP Government from getting toppled in Manipur, Deputy Chief Minister, Prestone Tynsong on Thursday said that the government was treating the frequent trips of the chief minister as normal “official tour”.
Responding to a query in this regard, Deputy Chief Minister, Prestone Tynsong on Wednesday said that in line with the protocol of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, there was a notification of the Health Department dated June 2, in which there is a provision that if any high official including Prime Minister, Chief Minister, Chief Secretary or any high official undertakes an official tour outside the state, they have to go for RTPCR test after they come back to the state and once they test negative, they are allowed to go back to the work with necessary precautions.
Responding to another query that he went to Manipur for political reasons and not for official work, Tynsong said, “Are you saying politics is not an official work? You have to define and tell me which one is not official.”
Tynsong while defending the chief minister said that Conrad Sangma is the national president of the NPP and he along with Assam Finance Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma had to rush to Manipur due to the prevailing political situation which needed to be sorted out.
“They need to have a solution otherwise people of Manipur will suffer and we treat this as an official tour. Why should you say it’s not official,” Tynsong retorted.
Conrad visited Imphal on Sunday and he returned to the state on the same day following which his samples were tested for COVID-19.
After his samples tested negative for COVID-19, the chief minister left for Manipur on Tuesday and on Thursday he visited New Delhi.
According to the SOP, people who enter the state from outside have to first go to the quarantine centres and give their samples and if they are tested negative, they are sent home where they have to undergo at least 14 days of home quarantine.
