"Lockdown is not the only solution": Abdul Khaleque fires salvo at Himanta Biswa Sarma

Guwahati: Abdul Khaleque, the Congress MP who represents Barpeta at the Lok Sabha, today fired salvoes at Assam's health and family welfare minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who is currently waging a battle against the COVID-19 pandemic that has rampaged across the world, leaving a trail of death and devastation behind.

Talking to The Sentinel Digital, Khaleque said that Himanta Biswa Sarma "has not taken enough steps" to prevent the outbreak of the disease which is why it has reached its current state in Assam. "We have seen lockdown being imposed in parts of the state due to a surge in cases. Look, the lockdown is not the only solution. We have reached such a state as the Assam Government has failed to take adequate steps to contain this virus", said Khaleque.

Khaleque also said that instead of roaming around, the Minister should instead focus more on ramping up the health facilities in the state in the midst of the outbreak. "Instead of going from one place to another, the Minister should be focussed on how to increase Assam's ability to fight this viral disease. Ever since he started roaming around, it has become a sort of competition among politicians", the Assam Congress leader said.

Khaleque's admonishments come days after former Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi claimed that Himanta Biswa Sarma has been running a "one man show without experts" in regards to the COVID-19 fight.

Gogoi also chastised his former party mate for allegedly "ignoring" medical personnel. "The letter sent to the State Health Minister by IMA's (Indian Medical Association) Assam State branch on Tuesday has exposed it that health experts have been grossly neglected. We need to be sympathetic to them on the way they've been rendering services to the COVID-19 patients. However, instead of doing that, the State government is neglecting them. This is condemnable", Gogoi said. He further urged Sarbananda Sonowal, the Chief Minister of the state, to form an expert committee that can suggest measures to be taken in the fight against COVID.

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