Harassment at the cost of enforcing Covid norms in MP?

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Bhopal, May 21 (IANS) Amid the strict attitude by the state administration in enforcing Covid norms among people, many incidents have come to light in several districts of Madhya Pradesh where people are being harassed and excesses committed by the administration under the guise of enforcing Covid appropriate behaviour. This entails wearing face masks, maintaining social distancing and frequently washing hands to prevent people from contracting the infection.

Neemuch is one such district where people were allegedly harassed. The administration closed down industrial units amid the 'Janata curfew' in the district. Due to the massive uproar against this decision, the administration was forced to withdraw this order.

The administration has ordered complete closure of grocery, vegetable and fruit shops during the 'Janata curfew'. Even the home delivery of grocery items is non-operational. The question then arises that how will people be able to spend the next 10 days without vegetables, fruits, ration or grocery items?

Local journalist Jinendra Surana continues to raise his voice on closing down everyday essentials during 'Janata curfew'. He has also apprised the Chief Minister's Office about this. He says, "The district administration is acting in an arbitrary manner and harassing the local people. If people are unable to buy vegetables, fruits and essential goods, what will be their condition can be imagined? During Covid times it is recommended to take nutritious food along with green vegetables and fruits for boosting one's immunity, but in Neemuch district people are deprived of this necessity. The administration is unaware of what will happen to sick patients."

Neemuch MLA Dilip Singh Parihar has written to state Minister Om Prakash Sakhlecha regarding the attitude of the administration. The letter said that permission must be granted to open fruits and vegetables, grocery, shops etc for two days a week so that people do not face any difficulty.

Another incident of excesses has come up in Sagar district where a woman had gone out for work with her daughter and the police officials misbehaved with them. A video which has gone viral on social media shows that the woman and her daughter were ill-treated by policemen.

In Datia district of Madhya Pradesh, the administration officials have come up with a new punishment. Any individual seen on the road driving their own vehicle, the tyres are deflated without seeking any explanation. The administration ignored the plight of those people whose vehicles tyres are being deflated without asking for the reason why they stepped out of their house.

Local leader Sunil Tiwari says that the administration and police personnel are acting in an unfair manner with the common man. Strictness is necessary during Covid-19 but it is also necessary to understand the helplessness of the people. Those people found wandering needlessly on the roads, their vehicles must be confiscated and they should be fined.

In Chaki gram panchayat of Sagar district, five trees have to be planted by Covid violators for not wearing face masks while Lord Ram has to be written in Kelagwan in Satna district for violating the Covid norms. People are being sent to prison at various places.

The corona pandemic has disrupted normal life in Madhya Pradesh as elsewhere too. The state government is taking several precautionary measures to prevent the infection from spreading, including 'Janata curfew'.

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has given instructions to strictly follow the 'Janata curfew' and appealed to the people to cooperate with the government. But senior officials in many districts are taking advantage of the government's directives and acting in a high handed manner in the name of strictness.

--IANS

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