The Opposition Naga People’s Front (NPF) on Wednesday urged the Nagaland Cabinet to immediately revoke its decision to returnees to various districts and revise the standard operating procedure in this regard.
At a meeting held at the residence of Opposition leader T.R. Zeliang here, the party legislators and officials said the decision of the state government to send the returnees to Tuensang was a disastrous step.
Condemning the decision in the strongest term, the party said the overall handling of the matter by the government was very unfortunate.
Five returnees from Chennai tested Covid19 positive after they were sent to Tuensang.
The NPF congratulated the health workers, village councils, church bodies, community-based organisations and all others who are working on the frontline against Covid19 in the state.
The party reassured the people of the state that it will continue to safeguard the interest and well-being of the citizens in the fight against the pandemic.
It also demanded that the state government provide seeds of crops as the farmers are not able to cultivate on time due to the nationwide lockdown.
Small and marginal businessmen and entrepreneurs must be provided economic stimulus for recovery, it added.
The party said despite vehement opposition by several NGOs and political parties in the state, chief minister Neiphiu Rio, who also holds the finance portfolio, imposed Covid cess on petrol and diesel in the state.
This has led to sharp price rise of all the commodities thereby increasing the burden of the common men, it said.