Himanta Biswa asked about possibility of lockdown relaxation; here's what he said

GUWAHATI: Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma today said that the government is not mulling to relax the curbs imposed to contain the novel coronavirus despite small business owners struggling to make ends meet due to the curbs (as per the existing SOPs, all shops and establishments must close down by 11 am).

Asked about the possibility of lifting the curbs by scribes, Sarma said, "If we undertake discussions in that regard, we will have to lift the lockdown. If we lift the lockdown, dead bodies will pile up once again. Therefore, we should refrain from asking such questions as the situation will return to normal eventually."

The chief minister said that relaxing curbs will cause the state to lose its battle against the pathogen.

Asked about the possibility of giving remunerations to small businesses hit by the partial lockdown, Sarma said, "Some people will ask for the shops to be opened. Some will ask for them to be shut down. This will cause us to inevitably lose the battle against the COVID. We have released Rs 830 to 22 lakh people across Assam as financial help."

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Sarma made these assertions outside the office of Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) that he visited today to forge closer ties with the party's leadership.

Even though the BJP, along with its allies AGP and United People's Party Liberal (UPPL), swept the elections held earlier this year, the regional party's former leadership has shown reservations about this alliance.

"As the representative of the coalition, I have my duties. Today, I thanked the workers and functionaries for their role in the Mitrajut in the recent elections," Sarma said, adding that he will continue to visit the AGP office from time-to-time to forge a closer relationship with the regional powerhouse.

Sarma added that he has also invited AGP leaders Atul Bora and Keshab Mahanta to visit the BJP office. On the other hand, BJP and AGP leaders will also visit the UPPL's offices in Kokrajhar to ensure a camaraderie in the "real sense" and not only on the Assembly floor.

"All three parties will work for the upliftment of Assam and works towards taking Assam ahead," Sarma further intoned.

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