Bihar has only just recuperated from the Covid outbreak but it seems the coming elections will push the state back into the danger zone. With netas hitting the streets and poll rallies everywhere, social distancing norms have gone for a toss, at least for now.
At its peak during August 6-15, the daily Covid cases in Bihar were about 4,000 while 1,200 cases (approx) are being reported every day.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday addressed a political rally at Mokama where a few thousand people gathered to hear him. The images from the venue showed an unmistakable violation of the Election Commission’s Covid guidelines.
As per the guidelines issued by the Home department, masks have been made mandatory at all indoor and outdoor rallies along with a cap of 200 people in closed halls and six feet of social distancing.
Hugging and shaking hands have to be avoided at the rallies and organisers have been asked to ensure availability of paper napkins and proper sanitisation of the venues.
Earlier this week, Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai also held a rally at Mahnar in Vaishali district. This rally saw a massive turnout where people hardly wore masks and social distancing norm again ignored.
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tej Pratap Yadav filing of his nomination from Hasanpur Assembly seat on Tuesday displayed yet another blatant violation during the process. Both Tej Pratap and his brother Tejashwi Yadav going to the SDO office in Rosera to submit the papers, and hundreds of RJD workers and supporters moved with them flouting social distancing norms.
Ever since the Union home ministry has lifted restrictions to hold political rallies in 12 election-bound states, including Bihar, leaders of various political parties such as the BJP, JD(U) and the RJD are regularly holding political rallies and roadshows with thousands in attendance.
“We are requesting the people who are coming to attend the political rallies to follow social distancing and wear mask as has been instructed by the Election Commission in its guidelines. We are on the verge of defeating coronavirus in Bihar and negligence now can turn to be fatal,” said Abhishek Jha, spokesperson of Janata Dal (United).
The Gaya district administration lodged an FIR against the organisers who held an event of BJP national president JP Nadda on October 11 for violating social distancing norms. Police said people who took part in the rally allegedly violated the guidelines by not wearing masks and not maintaining social distancing.
The state will vote in three phases on October 28, November 3 and November 7 and the results will be announced on November 10.