Nagaland: NDPP Calls for Unity & Not to Politicize COVID-19 Pandemic

Nagaland: NDPP Calls for Unity & Not to Politicize COVID-19 Pandemic

File Image: Nagaland CM Neiphiu RioFile Image: Nagaland CM Neiphiu Rio
India TodayNE
  • Apr 16, 2020,
  • Updated Apr 16, 2020, 12:48 AM IST

Kohima, April 15, 2020:

The Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) has called out to the people of Nagaland to cooperate with the Government and refrain from politicizing the current pandemic situation.

The appeal has come days after the Congress lambasted the Nagaland Government for not constructing a testing lab for the virus as it continues to spread across the country.

"The NDPP is constrained to issue this statement requesting the opposition party to kindly refrain from politicising the COVID-19 pandemic by making personalized attacks on the Hon'ble Chief Minister during these trying times," said a statement released on Wednesday.

ALSO READ: Nagaland: Dimapur COVID-19 Hospital Nurses Demand Proper PPE Kits, Threaten Discontinuation of Work

It added, "While any government is responsible to ensure the safety of the citizens, it also requires the support of the people to fight such a crisis that the world is facing today."

NDPP said that it would be "most unfortunate" and "selfish" if the people "take these difficult times to politicise and push forward our political agendas and interests.

The Congress had earlier said, “Inspection visits to hospitals, distribution of some medical kits and food items are the only visible work of PDA government headed by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio who has been at the helm for a major part of past 17 years. If only importance was given to the social and health sectors, things would have not been as bad as it is now.”

Congress further stated, “It is also disturbing to note that the ruling party legislators are on a publicity spree while handing over government procured items like hand sanitizers, mask, gloves and food items to district administration or people. The public are being made to believe that the essential items are being personally procured and donated by the minister or ruling MLA which is distressing in these extraordinary times. In the past month alone, hundreds of crores have been sanctioned by the government of India to fight COVID-19.”

ALSO READ: Tripura’s First COVID-19 Positive Patient Discharged from Hospital

It needs mention here that the staff of COVID-19 Hospital Dimapur has now threatened to discontinue work if they are not provided with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits. They have also sought medical staff support while testing suspected COVID-19 patients.

Congress further drew the attention on the huge deficiency in the distribution of relief materials and that there is a practice of “discrimination and favoritism particularly on political lines”. The best that the state government can do at this juncture is to rise up to the occasion and create an all-inclusive approach. All districts and assembly constituencies must be given fair and equal treatment without any political bias,” it had added.

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