DIMAPUR, JUNE 5 (MExN): The National People’s Party (NPP), Nagaland State has criticized the Nagaland Government on its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and asked the Chief Minister to “step down and pave way for a people-centric government and leadership so that the public don’t have to suffer any longer.”
In an open letter to the Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, NPP Nagaland President, Dr Andrew Ahoto Sema and General Secretary, Limanuksung Longkumer said “If you cannot prove your worth of being a competent leader during this crisis you have totally failed us.”
The NPP said that the Nagaland Government “was not well-prepared and very rash in bringing back the stranded people of Nagaland from various states of India without properly ascertaining the state’s preparedness.” It stated that the government should have “at least come forward with a concrete plan of action before their arrival.”
It also questioned why the government not sanction enough funds (not only Rs10,000) for those people stranded outside the state, which could have at least given some respite to those people till the state was well-equipped to bring them back.
The party also accused the government of “not being transparent in the utilization of the COVID-19 funds and instead has provided exaggerated amounts in the public portals.”
It also criticized the government for the handling of returnees citing cases of returnees kept waiting for hours without food and water; lack of facilities in quarantine centers; and succumbing to pressure in moving returnees which caused the Tuensang fiasco last month. It also condemned the mismanagement which led to the Peren debacle on June 3.
The NPP questioned how can there be accountability “when there are frequent transfers and postings of the top level officials of the COVID-19 Committees who are not given adequate opportunities to settle down and understand the logistics.” It meanwhile expressed concern that the government is giving priority in terms of testing only the returnees from the red zones but are “least bothered” about those who have come from the other zonest.
It also posed if the COVID-19 hospitals are fully equipped and prepared to handle this situation, considering the rise in cases each day.
The NPP meanwhile cited reports that samples of many of the returnees who are lodged in the quarantine centres have not even been collected for testing. Towards this, it suggested that the government can mull using the Trunat Beta-Cov Testing Kits/Machines as an alternative before more labs are made functional. Though, the Trunat Beta-Cov is not highly dependable, they can atleast provide some conclusive report based on which the tests may further be validated through the BSL-3 or BSL-2 Labs, the party said.
The NPP termed the government’s promise of setting up a BSL-2 Lab in Tuensang as “unrealistic.”It pointed out that the BLS 2 lab in Dimapur is still not complete.
“We urge you to make the right calculations before making any lofty promises,” the NPP advised the CM and pointed to the enormity of the technical and manpower requirements needed in order to set up a BSL lab.
Other concerns included the “total lack of concern for the frontline workers.” It demanded that the State Government immediately depute adequate number of doctors and nurses in all the districts. “We also demand that doctors and other medical staff should be proportionately distributed in each district as per the district-wise load of qurantinees,” it added.
The NPP said that health workers are being overworked. It meanwhile acknowledged the Dimapur District COVID-19 Committee led by Y. Kikheto Sema, IAS, Agriculture Production Commissioner “who has done an incredible job of managing the overall situation like a true leader along with his team despite heavy work pressure.”
“We also appreciate all those NGOs, Civic Bodies, Institutions and Individuals who are going out of their way in helping the returnees as well as the frontline workers without any funds from the state government,” the NPP stated.
Further, the NPP questioned why the government has not taken any step in hiring experts from outside to take expert advice on how to mitigate the effects of the pandemic “except may be taking the advice of some inexperienced stooges who have only political affinity and no clear cut professional know-how.”
It also criticized the government’s “total disregard and negative reaction to numerous criticisms.”
“As a populist and democratic government, your role should have been more people oriented but sadly, you have started being more autocratic and insensitive when people have started criticizing the government with the well-being of the public in mind,” the NPP stated.
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