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The | New Delhi |
Updated: May 8, 2020 7:24:07 am
Health authorities blame the Tablighi Jamaat meeting in Nizamuddin, Delhi, for the spread of Covid cases across the country.
More than 3,000 Tablighi Jamaat members remain confined in different quarantine centers in Delhi, despite negative tests for COVID-19 and completing the mandatory quarantine period.
And for unexplained reasons, the Delhi Department of Health has written twice to the Union Home Office, on April 17 and May 3, seeking “instructions and protocols” in its publication, saying “no They have only been negative but have also completed more than 28 days in hospital / quarantine facilities. “
On Thursday, Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain told reporters that Tablighi Jamaat members could not be released earlier, despite the end of their quarantine period, due to the total blockade until May 3.
“If the police have to act against someone, they are free to do so. Otherwise, those who are in quarantine and those who were positive and have now turned negative should be released, ”Jain said.
Read | Speaking to Tablighis: “Anguished and unfortunate Nizamuddin incident, but don’t turn it into a witch hunt”
When asked why they were prevented from leaving after the quarantine period, Jain said: “It was due to the closure. There was an absolute closure until May 3, when all kinds of movement was restricted. Now the stranded can be displaced and that is why these people, who are also stranded, should be displaced. “
Health authorities blame the Tablighi Jamaat meeting in Nizamuddin, Delhi, for the spread of Covid cases across the country.
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In this regard, FIR have been registered in Delhi and different parts of the country. Some Tablighi Jamaat members, who traveled to India from different countries, have been booked for alleged violation of visa conditions; Authorities say they arrived on tourist visas but attended a religious congregation.
Jain said the Delhi government has reached out to other states with lists of quarantined Tablighi Jamaat members; none of them had been released until Thursday.
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States like Uttar Pradesh began the process of returning stranded people and migrant workers even before the Center released guidelines on their return.
In its May 3 letter to the MHA – it was a continuation of a letter on April 17 – the Delhi Department of Health also mentioned “mounting pressure” on the government to release the members of Tablighi Jamaat.
“As a month has passed after the completion of the Markaz evacuation exercise, people have moved from these mosques to various hospitals and the quarantine facilities are restless to return to their respective states / countries. As today, all 3,013 people have not only been negative, but have also completed more than 28 days in hospital / quarantine facilities. ” “The administration is having a hard time convincing these people for their long stay, even more so during the holy month of Ramadan,” Delhi Health Secretary Padmini Singla wrote to Additional Secretary (UT) MHA.
Read | Tablighi Jamaat Congregation: The first link was discovered on March 17; list of foreigners took until 21
“The department is receiving requests from various states for his release. We did not receive any requests from MHA regarding the same in response to our previous letter as mentioned above. Previous MHA orders issued on the release of quarantined persons returning from foreign locations were scrupulously followed. Now, in light of the facts mentioned above, you are kindly requested to issue the necessary addresses / protocols for them immediately, as there is increasing pressure on the government, ”Singla wrote.
It is unclear why the Delhi Health Department sought a specific protocol on the release of the members of Tablighi Jamaat. Singla did not respond to requests for comment.
Read | Across the nation, compete to track contacts from the Tabligh meeting
In his interaction with reporters, Jain did not refer to any lack of protocol to release them.
Of the 3,013 in quarantine centers, 567 are foreigners and 2,446 Indians. Of Indian citizens, 191 belong to Delhi. The government had evacuated some 2,346 people from the Markaz building in Nizamuddin. Of the evacuees, 536 were transferred to hospitals and the rest to quarantine centers.
The MHA did not respond to questions about the letters written by the Delhi government or about the release protocol.
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