SHILLONG: The Synjuk Ki Nongsynshar Shnong ka Bri u Hynniewtrep (SNSBH) has written to the Chief Minister, Conrad Sangma, urging the government to take strong punitive action against the marriage party revelers while expressing concern over the rising cases of COVID-19 in the state and.
In the letter, the general secretary of the Synjuk, RL Blah, condemned the irresponsible behaviour of such citizens of the state who, he said, were answerable for the rising cases of the deadly virus.
“We firmly urge the government to bring these defaulters to task and impose harsh punishments and fines upon them for breaking protocols and guidelines set forth by the state”, he said adding that the government should consider adopting stringent measures and issue warning that any future offender will be dealt with severely.
He was referring to the wedding that took place on June 27, at Greenwood Resort, Khanapara where, he stated, violation of protocol “has left the masses speechless”.
At least two persons from the wedding party subsequently tested positive for the virus
“One can only wonder how 40+ people from Shillong attended the ceremony with passes issued for fivepersons only,” he said even as he questioned the logic of holding a ceremony in Khanapara when
Guwahati city was already declared a red zone and also how the family was permitted to hold another reception in Shillong within four days of returning from Khanapara.
Blah said the episode indicates lapses on the part of the government and the departments concerned. Taking care of all these simple but important details could have prevented the current situation in the state.
Blah said that the incident is an eye opener to
the insensitive, selfish and careless mentality of people and families who risk and endanger other people’s lives just so they can experience a sort of normalcy in their lives. He said it was becoming a trend in the state, where the affluent enjoy unrestricted and unchecked movement whereas the impoverished struggle to maintain a decent household in this pandemic.