BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj put under 14-day quarantine BJP threatens agitation if not freed immediately

(Adding BJP reax)
Giridih (Jharkhand), Aug 29 (PTI) BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj
was forcibly home quarantined here Saturday for 14-day for
violating COVID norms, prompting the saffron party to hit out
at Hemant Soren government for adopting "double standards" in
implementation of the rules and threatening to launch a
statewide agitation if the leader was not freed immediately.
The MP from Uttar Pradesh had come to Giridih, over 200 km
from Ranchi, to take part in a programme from Unnao via
Dhanbad.
Maharaj, who was returning to Dhanbad by road to take a
train to Delhi, was intercepted by the district administration
near Pirtand police station and sent to quarantine at Shanti
Bhawan ashram, where he had gone to take part in a programme,
Deputy Commissioner Rahul Kumar Sinha said.
The action has been taken in accordance with a state
government order of 14 days quarantine for people coming to
the state from outside, the DC said.
"He had not informed the state government about his visit
and therefore we have put him in isolation for 14 days," Sinha
said.
The DC, however, said if he wanted he can apply for
exemption.
Maharaj slammed the adminstration for "forcibly" sending
him in isolation, saying "I am Member of Parliament and
Jharkhand is a part of India. Can't I meet my ailing
mother?
"I have to take part in a meeting of the standing
committee of Parliament on Sunday and I have been forcibly
quarantined here...its really disgusting," he told reporters.
The state BJP came in his support and made a scathing
attack at the coalition ministry over the incident, saying
"Hemant Soren government is adopting double standards in
implementation of COVID norms...there is incongruency in
taking action against VIP and a comman man and also between
politicians of the ruling and opposition parties."
Jharkhand BJP president Deepak Prakash threatnedd to
launch a statewide agitation if Maharaj was not released from
coercive isolation immediately.
He alleged that while he and senior party leader Babulal
Marandi were sent to 14 days self isolation on return to
Ranchi from Delhi recently, whereas Congress co-incharge
visited the state capital from the national capital and held
organisational meeting and participated in other programmes,
but no such action was initiated against him.
Earlier, after getting information about visit and return
of the Uttar Pradesh politician without advance information,
the administration sealed borders of the district and put
barricades.
A team headed by Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Prerna
Dixit which was following him stopped the MP at a barricade
under Pirtand police station and sent him on 14 days isolation
at Shanti Bhawan, the DC said.
Maharaj told reporters at the spot he was intercepted
that he had come to see his ailing mother in Giridih after
giving prior information.
He, however, said had he been told about the mandatory
14-day quarantine condition for visiting Jharkhand, he would
not have come.
The BJP MP talked to Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary
from the place he was intercepted in the presence of media and
also put the DC over phone to the chief secretary.
But, it did not help him and he was taken by the
police to Shanti Bhawan for placing him under home quarantine.
The MP said, RJD chief Lalu Prasad's son Tej Pratap
Yadav had on Wednesday visited Ranchi to meet his father in
RIMS and returned to Patna by road, but the administration did
not take any similar action.
"This appears to be inspired by political jealousy,"
the UP BJP leader alleged.
Jharkhand has a coalition government of JMM,
Congress and the RJD headed by Hemant Soren.
"The entire members of the state cabinet were told to
go in quarantine after a minister had tested positive, but the
ministers were seen moving freely and participating in
programmes," Prakash, Rajya Sabha, MP, said in a statement
in Ranchi.
"What kind of rule is this under which Congress
ministers and party workers sit on dharna in front of the Raj
Bhawan and the administration remain a mute spectator.
"Lalu Prasad's son visits Ranchi to meet his father
and his supporters indulge in mischievous activities but the
administration looks the other way," he said. PTI CORR IKD
SNS SNS

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)