GNLF seeks quarantine for Thapa, Tamang

SNS,27 June 2020, Darjeeling: The Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) has demanded that following the government Standard Operating Procedure, Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha leaders Anit Thapa and Binoy Tamang, who have returned from Kolkata, should remain in 14 days' isolation. On the other hand, the Morcha maintained that this guideline does not apply to the two leaders, "as according to another guiddine of the government, the two need to self-monitor themselves for 14 days."

The Morcha leaders had attended an all-party meeting in Kolkata on 24 June and have now returned.

"Government guidelines should be followed by all, be it a common man, or those sitting in high posts, like Darjeeling MP Raju Bista had done when he came hem from Delhi. He stayed in 14 days' quarantine, which was a good example for the people," GNLF leader Ajoy Edwards said.

'The state government SOP issued on 27 May states that after medical examination, all asymptomatic persons, other than those coming from five high burden states, will be released with instructions after 14 days' strict home quarantine. This rule is for everyone and it should be followed by all, including the two Morcha leaders who have returned from Kolkata recently," he said, adding that many positive Covid- 19 cases were being reported from Kolkata and the two leaders there had met many people, who had worked in the frontlines.

Commenting on this, Morcha (Binoy Tamang camp) leader Keshav Raj Pokhrel said, "The government SOP, which the GNLF is citing, does not apply to our leaders as it is an intra-state trawl. The state government has a guiddine for domestic travel by air within the state which maintains that on arrival, health screening will be done for all passengers.Those asymptomatic persons will be released with the instructions that they self-monitor themselves for 14 days and contact the different help lines if they show symptoms. These are all being followed by our leaders," the Morcha leader said.

Mr Pokhrel added that since the Darjeeling MP had come from Delhi which has been mentioned as a high burden state it was good that he had stayed in 14 days' quarantine. "The leaders should read government protocols before misleading the people," he said.

The Morcha leader also claimed that the state government has now agreed to appoint around 70 staff in the Covid Level-2 Tribeni hospital. Earlier, it had been decided that staff from Kalimpong and Darjeding hospitals would be shared on alternate weeks. In the all-party meeting in Kolkata the Morcha also placed a demand with the chief minister for starting work to develop two more designated Covid hospitals in Jamuney in Darjeeling and Gorubhathan in Kalimpong.