Assam BJP MLA accused of violating COVID19 lockdown rules

GUWAHATI: At a time when Assam's public has been warned to stay indoors post 1 pm in the afternoon, it seems like the state's leaders themselves are not following the rules imposed to control the coronavirus outbreak.

Jayanta Malla Baruah, a legislator representing Nalbari and Assam BJP Vice President has become the latest high-profile politician accused of violating the lockdown rules.

According to reports, Malla stepped out of his house around midnight yesterday and visited a hair salon along B. Barooah road in Guwahati city where he got his hair and beard trimmed.

According to the ongoing lockdown rules, people can only step out of their houses for 'emergency' activities such as purchasing medicines or any health emergency.

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Moreover, all shops -- including salons -- have to close shutters by 12 pm in the afternoon.

Therefore, Baruah's visit to the salon in the middle of the night has sparked a mini-conspiracy, with certain sections of society beginning to wonder whether lockdown rules only apply to the ordinary citizen.

Meanwhile, Assam's chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has said that a section of the curbs will be done away with June 15 on a "scientific" basis.

“We will initiate some measures from June 15. It will be more on a scientific pattern and after looking into the districtwise positivity rate,” Sarma added.

The Covid positivity rate is hovering around 3% in Assam at present. Assam had imposed strict restrictions mainly to provide relief to the daily wage earners.

Most of the other Indian states have imposed 'total lockdowns' to counter the COVID-19's second wave.

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