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BJP slams Mizoram govt for creating separate COVID centre for VIPs

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Aizawl: The Mizoram government decision to set up a separate COVID Care Centre for VIPs testing positive for coronavirus on Wednesday drew criticism from the BJP,which said the state government was promoting “VIP culture” at a time when the centre was making efforts to do away with the practice.

The state government on Tuesday issued an order designating a 28 bedded new MLA hostel at Khatla locality in Aizawl as COVID-19 Care Centre for treating VIPs diagnosed with the virus. Accusing the Mizo National Front (MNF) government of being “biased” in its treatment towards officials and important persons, the BJP said in a statement that its lone legislator Dr. BD Chakma, who tested positive for the virus Sunday, was shifted to Zora Medical Centre where he is undergoing treatment with other patients. ZMC in Aizawl is the lone dedicated COVID hospital in the state.

The MNF though is part of the BJP-led North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), but the saffron party is not a part of the Zoramthanga government in the state. “It is very unfortunate that Mizoram is dealing with a ”biased” government which is keen on showing partiality towards people, who are on good term with the MNF party,” the statement said. The party also said that Union Home Minister Amit Shah and many MPs when diagnosed with the contagion were not treated in specially arranged COVID-19 Care Centres but in the normal hospitals.

Stating that setting up of special centre for the VIP patients will only result in wastage of public money at a time when the state is reeling under financial crisis, the BJP asked the state government to reverse its decision. Mizoram on Wednesday reported 12 new coronavirus cases, pushing the states tally of infections to 1,480.

According to norms, symptomatic patients and those with co-morbid conditions are being treated at ZMC while asymptomatic patients have been admitted at COVID Care Centres. However, the state government on Tuesday issued home isolation guidelines allowing asymptomatic and very mild symptomatic infected patients to stay under home isolation provided they have requisite facilities at house to avoid contact with other family members. PTI 

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