So after crossing the figure of 150,000 cases infected with Covid 19, India has joined the list of top 10 nations in the world with maximum number of cases. Presently India stands at number 10 position , as per the current trends within day or two it will occupy 9th position. With Maharashtra having almost one third of cases in India, and Mumbai has got the distinction of first Indian city to cross 1000 deaths due to Covid 19 infections.
I do not know about other states of the country, but Maharashtra state and Mumbai city are in total mess. There are few leaders from the alliance who speak on any thing without checking the facts. Two days back on Sunday, Maharashtra CM on his televised speech stated that Central govt is not giving support to Maharashtra, as we have been asking Railways to provide trains for migrant workers to go to their home town, and immediately we need 125 trains for the said purpose. The Railway minister asked in series of tweets saying that Railways would send 125 trains right away on Monday, if Maharashtra govt send us list of migrant workers and trains destination. By 2 am of Monday morning railways received only list of 46 trains out of which 5 were to West Bengal and Odisha, which can not operate due to cyclone.
What was surprising was one Rajya Sabha member and Shiv Sena (SS) leader in his tweet said “ it is surprising that Railway minister, who is representing Maharashtra in Rajya Sabha is asking for the list. It seems that they are asking for a list of migrants only from us. The centre should avoid considering Maharashtra as an opposition ruled state.” I fail to understand that how come a Minister who represent Maharashtra in Rajya Sabha, will know about the actual position at the grass root level, secondly it implies that minister is asking list from Maharashtra state only. The fact of the matter is Maharashtra is opposition ruled state, what is SS leader meant by avoid considering Maharashtra is opposition ruled state.
It seems that CM of Maharashtra has lost the control on SS leaders, ministers and other functionaries of the govt, as nothing is happening in the state in proper coordinated way. Yesterday, BJP leaders went on to meet Governor and asked him to recommend President’s rule in the state. But President rule can not be the permanent solution.
Yesterday was also the day when domestic flights resumed the operations after 2 months. But the first day ended in great chaos with more than 50% of announced flights cancelled. Only 532 of announced 1054 flights could only operate. Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore alone accounted for 275 cancellations. The schedule of Monday was finalised after talks between the aviation ministry and some states ended late on Sunday with the decision to operate the flights, some airports like Kolkata, Bagdogra, Vijaywada and Vizag will open only later this week, where as Mumbai, Chennai and Hyderabad are having strict cap on the number of flights. A fact which has not been considered by state govt is how the passengers in city like Mumbai will reach the airport, as no Taxis or auto rickshaws are permitted on the roads unless the passenger is having essential service pass. Yesterday it so happened that many cab/rickshaw operators were fined by Police for operating the vehicles doing lock down. I fail to understand why the govt failed to issue proper instructions to police, the simple thing would have been in such cases, if passenger in cab/rickshaw can show E ticket of flight, then journey should be permitted.
One more issue surfaced yesterday at Bangalore airport. A central govt minister travelled in commercial flight operated between Delhi and Bangalore. After the landing at Bangalore airport, all the other passengers were asked to go in for one week quarantine, but minister was allowed to go. This created controversy, why he did not go in for institutional quarantine as mandated by Karnataka state. Later the govt clarified that the rule does not apply to those who hold certain responsible posts. According to the state govt instructions, travellers from six states and Union territory with high number of Covid cases, have to remain in institutional quarantine for 7 days. Later an addendum was issued which said the Union and state ministers and officials on duty travelling across states are exempted from quarantine. Health officials are included in this. In my opinion if commercial flights are available then why the minister should charter a flight. Now if yesterday minister would have come in chartered flight, then no would have come to know about his travel.
There are going to many glitches when the country will try to come back to normal. As this quarantine/lock down business is happening first time in the country even minister/govt officials are not knowing how to go about the process of re opening.
What you say my friends
Waiting for your views/feed backs/comments.
Anil Malik
Mumbai, India
26th May 2020
R. N. Mungale.
I agree that if a ticket was shown permission to travel to airport should have been given.