Agartala: A day before the scheduled rally of All India Trinamool Congress general secretary Abhishekh Banerjee in Agartala, the Tripura government in a sudden notification has made a COVID-19 negative report of 48 hours prior to entry in the state through road, railway and airway mandatory.
Even if one or more districts has reached a positivity rate of five per cent or more as on October 26 last and the person got double shots of vaccine, the order remains in force.
The notification which was released Friday night made it clear that from today onward a person coming from West Bengal, Kerala, Himachal Pradesh and all the northeastern states except for Assam has to carry COVID-19 negative report irrespective of COVID 19 vaccination status; otherwise, the concerned passenger will have to undergo testing at the entry point.
The health director has asked all the Chief Medical Officers to maintain strict implementation of the foregoing instructions. A large number of travellers coming from West Bengal have faced problems at Agartala airport and at Churaibari of North Tripura who was travelling by trains or vehicles.
The abrupt decision of the state government has irked Trinamool Congress and the leaders here alleged that the ruling BJP has received a jerk with the growth of TMC in Tripura. “The decision of Covid negative report is used as a tool to prevent the entry of Trinamool leaders from West Bengal especially, Abhishek Banerjee,” alleged state TMC chief Subal Bhowmik.
He said Abhishek Banerjee’s first rally was prevented by imposing 144 in Agartala two months ago and now when the rally is all set to be held, Biplab Kumar Deb government misused the Disaster Management Act
to prevent Banerjee and added, “After a double dose of vaccine nowhere in the country Covid-19 negative report is made mandatory and in case of Tripura where everything is normal how Tripura government-issued
such an order.”
He further alleged that BJP cadres have openly threatened TMC supporters across the state not to come in Sunday’s rally of Abhishek Banerjee and issued murderous threats to the local level leaders if they join the rally, despite informing the police they have been playing an indifferent role.
“A motivated case against Trinamool leader Kunal Ghosh has been registered by police accusing him of hurting the sentiments of Hindus in a meeting two days ago here where Ghosh attempted to connote the sufferings of women under BJP role today with Sita’s exile with Lord Ram in the forest,” Bhowmik stated.
He pointed out that Kunal Ghosh was served notice Friday night to appear in West Agartala police station for investigation of his statement but a couple of hours later, police launched search against him to arrest and added, “BJP is doing excess against democracy feeling nervous with TMC but we are sure people will give them a reply in the upcoming civic elections.”
