Anil Vij, the health minister of Haryana has asked the chief minister of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal, to arrange accommodation for the people who work in Delhi but reside in Haryana and commute daily for work. These people, who commute between the national capital and many cities of Harayana, “have become corona-carriers” said the health minister.
“Earlier several members of the Islamic sect Tablighi Jamaat arrived from Delhi and 120 of them tested positive. Haryana ensured their treatment. Now, a lot of people who work in Delhi but stay in Haryana are commuting using passes. They have become Corona carriers,” Vij told ANI.
It needs to be noted here that Delhi has the third-highest number of Covid-19 cases after Maharashtra and Gujarat, despite a smaller population of less than 2 crores. Delhi has arguably the highest or second-highest number of cases (after Mumbai) per capita. On the other hand, Haryana, the state that surrounds national capital from three sides, has reported one of the lowest numbers of cases at 289, despite having a larger population than Delhi.
Most of the cases reported in Haryana have Delhi link, and therefore, the health minister has asked the people who are commuting with the pass and becoming Corona-carriers to be accommodated in the city itself. “In Sonepat, nearly nine cases have been reported who got infected in Delhi. In Panipat, a police officer – the sister of a cop working with Delhi Police – got infected from him… then the whole family contracted COVID-19. We had to initiate quarantine efforts at Samalkha Police Station where she was working. So, I appeal to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to arrange accommodation for those working in the national capital,” said Vij.
Haryana has sealed most of the borders with Delhi and ordered strict vigilance on Delhi-Sonipat border in order to prevent Corona-carriers from entering the state. “They should not be sent to Haryana by giving them passes. This is leading to an increase in the number of cases here. Borders are sealed, most people are not allowed but those with passes can enter,” Vij added.
In Haryana, the neighbouring districts of Delhi have reported the highest number of cases. So far, Gurgaon (51), Faridabad (45), Palwal (34), Sonipat (20) and Panchkula (18), are the worst affected districts.
Under the leadership of Manohar Lal Khattar, Haryana has executed lockdown very efficiently and that is why the state has a very low number of cases so far. Doubling the salaries of doctors, Khattar has kept those on the frontlines in high spirits, which might have bolstered the state’s response against COVID-19.
On the other hand, the Kejriwal government could not handle the situation and the cases grew exponentially. Events such as Tablighi Jamaat Markaz were carried out under the nose of Delhi government and even after the cases were being reported, the government did not put strict vigilance on those attending the event. Aggressive tracing of contacts, the first line of defence against the Coronavirus spread, was not followed by the Delhi Government.
Moreover, it also failed to manage the migrant crisis. In fact, many of the leaders of AAP fuelled the migrant crisis which led to an exodus of lakhs to migrant workers to Delhi to UP and Bihar.
After pushing lakhs of people in UP and Bihar, now the Delhi government is pushing many in Haryana and this is leading to a rise in the cases in the state. The Kejriwal government must not show such apathy towards the migrant workers from neighbouring states and shall arrange food and accommodation for such workers so that cases do not spread in these states due to Corona-carriers.
