BJD’s COVID-19 Padyatra A Cover-Up For Mismanagement, Say BJP, Cong

Bhubaneswar: Opposition parties Congress and BJP on Friday termed the ruling BJD’s padyatra launched on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti as an attempt on the part of the state government to cover up the irregularities in COVID-19 management.

BJP general secretary Prithviraj Harichandan said the Central Government has allocated funds and ventilators to the state for COVID-19. But patients are not getting adequate service and have to wait to get ventilators and ICU beds.

“Taking out a padyatra in such a situation is an insult to the Father of the Nation on whose birth anniversary, the campaign is being launched. The state government should refrain from such practice,” he said.

In his reaction, Congress MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati said, “Instead of admitting that thousands of people have died of COVID-19 due to mismanagement, the government is conducting the padyatra to highlight its success. People will not accept this.”

During the month-long awareness padyatra of the BJD across the state till November 2, the ruling party MLAs will create awareness among people at the panchayat level and distribute masks. On the first day of the programme, they visited Jharana slum in Bhubaneswar and distributed masks to its residents.

“On the advice of Chief Minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik, the party leaders and workers will sensitise people about COVID-19 guidelines,” said Minister Ashok Panda.