Omicron scare: Govt prioritizing politics over public health, rallies may prove “super-spreader”

On the one hand, the country is witnessing a massive rise in the Omicron cases, on the other, there is no stop to politicians and political rallies. Prominent politicians are conducting rallies and campaigns in the states, which will hold assembly elections in upcoming months, without following any of the Covid-19 protocols. This negligence may hit home as another (third) Covid-19 wave. 

It’s high time that the election conducting body must intervene and enforce their own Covid-19 restrictions. Many health experts have suggested banning political gatherings, rallies, and campaigns as public health is much more important than politics. 

Politicians, including Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, have been conducting rallies in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, and Goa without wearing face masks and obeying social distancing. 

For the past three days, Delhi CM has been conducting rallies in UP, Uttarakhand, and Punjab and today, on Tuesday, he has tested positive to Covid-19. While conducting the rallies, he wasn’t wearing a face mask and evidently no social distancing was followed. 

Many opposition leaders have slammed Mr Kejriwal for committing a “sin” of spreading Covid-19, but they must peek into their gaze as all politicians, from BJP to Congress to AAP, are prioritizing politics over public health.

Now, the question rises will these rallies will affect the health of the common public? Will politicians “take the blame” for spreading Covid-19?

All five states, where politicians are conducting election campaigns, are witnessing a high spike in Covid-19 cases, due to its new variant Omicron. In the last 24 hours, India has reported 37,379 Covid-19 cases, it rises India’s Covid tally to 3,49,60,261. Out of these 1,892 cases are of the Omicron variant. 

State Governments have implemented Covid-related restrictions, including night curfew, encouraging distance learning, etc., in their respective states, but yet no restriction on political rallies have been issued. 

OP Soni, Punjab Deputy Chief Minister, is in favour of banning political rallies and has urged the government to take steps for the same. Mr Soni shared this statement after the state witnessed a spike in Covid-19 cases.