NPF supremo Zeliang launches salvo at Rio-led Govt after Covid-19 detection in Peren

Guwahati: After news of a Covid-19 patient reaching Jalukie in Nagaland's Peren district broke, the Leader of Opposition T R Zeliang has launched a scathing attack on the Neiphiu Rio-led Peoples' Democratic Alliance (PDA) Government for its alleged 'mishandling' of the Covid-19 crisis.

Launching a stinging attack out in a series of tweets, the former Chief Minister questioned, "Is one mistake not enough for the Govt of Nagaland to learn and take corrective measures? First, it was Tuensang and now Peren District, has it become a norm for the present dispensation, where there is absolutely no regard for human lives?"

Stating that the Government's honesty and sincerity is the "need-of-the-hour", Zeliang in another tweet charged that "a mistake that endangers lives is inexcusable and a crime. Apart from various other instances, these two are proof enough of how ill-prepared the State is to combat this pandemic."

In another tweet, the Naga People's Front (NPF) supremo claimed that the positive case was sent to the district even after the Peren Joint Action Committee (JAC) on Covid-19 raised concern to appropriate authority regarding sending positive cases. "This is a total disregard for the decision of the public", Zeliang lamented.

Zeliang's stinging attack has come days after the NPF leader voiced out against a similar incident that transpired in Tuensang when more than 170 passengers, who were among the Nagaland citizens that arrived from Chennai, were sent home from Kohima district even before the results of their Covid-19 tests were declared.

After the detection of several Covid-19 cases in the district, an outcry was raised, especially in the Eastern Nagaland region. "Taking cognizance of this matter, the Chief Minister ought to publicly apologize", Zeliang said in a video address. The NPF leader said that the commitment to set up a BSL laboratory to "is nothing but an appeasement policy which is being used as a compromise formula.

Alleging that the Chief Minister was well informed by legislators and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Zeliant said that he refused to take heed of the advice. "Instead of taking a concrete decision, the Chief Minister decided to sleep over it. This has not only endangered many lives but has given much scope for the virus to spread", the NPF supremo added.

It is pertinent to mention here that Nagaland has reported a sharp spike in its number of Covid-19 cases ever since the Naga citizens who were stranded in other states started returning back. Of the total 80 cases that the state has reported until today morning, Dimapur district has reported 57, followed by Kohima (17), Tuensang (5), and Peren (1).

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