Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his cabinet colleagues, who on Wednesday took part in a mega cycle rally in Guwahati to support boxer Lovlina Borgohain, have drawn flak for flouting the Covid-19 protocols.
Lovlina Borgohain is the only competitor from Assam at the Olympics this year.
Many social media users have expressed their anger over the sheer violation of Covid-19 norms by Chief Minister Sarma and his ministerial colleagues.
“While common people are being brutally tortured for allegedly flouting Covid norms, the chief minister himself has brushed aside all norms involving Covid-19,” said a user in a Facebook post.
Chief minister Sarma and his cabinet colleagues and MLAs participated in the cycle rally without wearing masks and hardly maintained social-distancing norms.
Chief minister Sarma took out the rally at a time when Covid-19 cases are still spreading in the state at an alarming rate.
On Wednesday, Assam reported 1547 cases and 25 deaths.
It may be mentioned that on May 13, Assam DGP Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta had warned that the police would press the attempt-to-murder charge against anyone organising a public or private gathering in violation of the Covid -19 restrictions.
“Even if someone slaps a case on the police (later), our personnel will not hesitate to resort to lathi-charge against those found violating the SOP. The police have to be strict at this time of crisis and force will be applied on violators,” the DGP had said.
Now, social media users have raised questions before DGP Mahanta whether the Assam police would slap similar charges on Assam CM Sarma and his cabinet colleagues for flouting Covid -19 restrictions.