SHILLONG, Jan 28: BJP legislator and former Health Minister, AL Hek has described the alleged flouting of COVID-19 protocols by Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma as “shameful” and demanded their withdrawal.
All India Trinamool Congress state president, Charles Pyngrope also criticised the CM for flouting the protocols.
“We should stop all the protocols. When the head of the state is not following them, how will we ask the public to do so? It is very shameful on the part of the government,” Hek, who is also the Advisor to the CM, said on Friday.
He said the head of the state has set a very bad example and it is unethical.
Stating that the protocols are only for the poor and not for the CM, ministers or MLAs, he insisted they (protocols) should be equal for all citizens and not different for a few just because they are in the government.
The CM had tested positive on January 21 and attended office on January 25. He also unfurled the national flag
during the official Republic Day celebrations at the Polo Grounds the next day.
He had on Thursday denied having flouted any protocols. “I have been very clear and careful that I always follow the protocols,” he had stated.
However, the Congress was not amused. It had demanded a clarification from him over the alleged different sets of protocols for different people.
Pyngrope observed that the CM might have decided to attend to his duties in violation of the quarantine protocols “on the advice of his medical team”.
“The CM probably had sought advice from his medical team before deciding not to undergo the seven-day mandatory isolation. He must have tested himself and may be the result came out negative,” Pyngrope said on Friday.
“However, the common man does not have such facilities. They need to follow the protocol and isolate themselves for seven days,” he said.
Pyngrope also stated that the protocols issued by the government have to be followed by everyone irrespective of their position and status.