Union Minister of State for External Affairs V. Muraleedharan called Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who had recently tested positive for COVID-19, "Covidiot."
The BJP leader from Kerala claimed that the chief minister "continuously" violated COVID-19 protocols and said Vijayan voted in the April 6 Kerala assembly polls without following protocols although he had tested positive.
According to news agency ANI, the minister said "Covidiot' you know what it means. There's no other word that can be used for a CM who continuously violates COVID protocol. As per doctors of Calicut Medical College, Kerala CM tested positive on April 4 and on April 6 voted without following protocols."
It is to be noted that the chief minister had tested positive only on April 8. Vijayan, who had taken the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine last month, had tweeted on April 8, "I have been confirmed Covid+ve. Will get treated at the Government Medical college, Kozhikode."
Reacting to the allegations by Muraleedharan, Kerala Health Minister K.K. Shailaja said she does not know on what basis the BJP leader made such allegations. "Kerala CM hasn't violated any #COVID19 protocols. His daughter tested positive on April 6 on voting day, CM cast his vote prior to it. How could have anyone known that he'd test positive on April 8," she asked, according ANI.
Don't know on what basis did he make such allegations. Kerala CM hasn't violated any #COVID19 protocols. His daughter tested positive on Apr 6 on voting day, CM cast his vote prior to it. How could have anyone known that he'd test positive on Apr 8?: Kerala Health Min KK Shailaja pic.twitter.com/m8fpyX6Zyi
— ANI (@ANI) April 15, 2021
Meanwhile, Vijayan was discharged from from the hospital on Wednesday. "He is asymptomatic and has tested Covid negative," a medical bulletin from the hospital said.
In a Facebook post after his discharge, Vijayan said the doctors and staff had provided the best possible care to him. "Have returned home as I have been discharged after being cured from COVID-19. The doctors and staff of Kozhikode Medical College provided the best possible care. The people of the state have given huge support," the chief minister said and thanked everyone.
—With PTI inputs
