With COVID-19 cases and deaths continuously rising in the state, the Madhya Pradesh government seems to have put the onus of fighting the pandemic on the people, going by Home Minister Narottam Mishra’s remarks today.
Mishra, who was also the state health minister till July 13, said, albeit poetically, that the responsibility of safeguarding lives has been handed over to the people themselves.
Speaking to the media after the 10-day complete lockdown in Bhopal was lifted, the home minister said that the government has done what it can—making hospitals available, ventilators and other facilities—but it was upon the people to ensure that they did not have to use these facilities, implying that they would have to take the precautions to avoid contracting the infection.
“Tera tujhko arpan, kya laage mora (what is yours is being handed over to you, nothing is mine),” Mishra said poetically, further adding “ab saunp diya hai jeewan ka bhaar swayam tumhare haathon mei (now the responsibility of life has been handed over to you).”
Interestingly, while making these statements before the media, the home minister was again without a mask and was carrying it in his hands, instead.
Mishra said that there has been a positive impact of the recent lockdown in Bhopal and other places, but lockdown could not be clamped forever. “There are economic considerations and livelihood matters of the poor. But precautions can be forever and that is what we request the people to follow,” he said.
However, a look at the data suggests that the 10-day lockdown did not do any particular good to Bhopal. From July 25 to August 3, the capital reported 1,816 positive cases—among them the chief minister, three ministers, state BJP chief and organising general secretary. Also, 40 deaths were reported in the duration. In the previous 10 days (July 16 to 24), Bhopal had reported 1,195 cases and 25 deaths.
Similarly, in the state, 8,075 cases and 109 deaths were reported in the past 10 days, taking the tally to 34,285 and 900 respectively. In the previous 10 days, 6,567 cases and 109 deaths had been reported.
Opposition Congress has attacked the government on the stance. Spokesman K.K. Mishra said that the tone of utter despair in the home minister’s statements is an acceptance of the failure of the government in handling the pandemic. “When there were only 500 cases, people were made to beat plates and clap and now, at over 18 lakh cases and over 39,000 deaths, they have simply given up on the situation. That is the story of India as well as Madhya Pradesh,” Mishra said.