Odisha MP Aparajita Sarangi’s birthday celebration draws flak

Bhubaneswar: Violation of COVID-19 guidelines during Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi’s birthday celebration yesterday has drawn criticism from various quarters as Odisha Minister of State (Home) Dibya Shankar Mishra wrote to Union Minister of State (Home) Nityanand Rai objecting the act.

Enclosing videos of the celebration with the letter, Mishra said the clips clearly show the MP being surrounded by hundreds of women who are neither wearing masks (except one) nor maintaining social distance and indulging in song and dance with utter disregard to Covid guidelines issued under the National Disaster Management Act and the earnest repeated appeals made by Prime Minister regarding the same.

“I would not have brought this to your notice, had this been the first occasion where the Honourable MP has blatantly violated Covid guidelines. In addition to repeated advisories, warnings and booking of at least three cases against Honourable MP for violation of Covid guidelines, there is no improvement in behaviour,” Mishra mentioned in the letter.

“Such irresponsible behaviour on the part of a people’s representative will demotivate the Covid Warriors and is an insult to all those who have lost their lives. And it also sends a completely contradictory message to the people at large especially in the light of the Honourable Prime Minister’s repeated messages and his appeal yesterday,” he added.

Mishra exuded hope that Rai’s office will bring the matter to the notice of the Prime Minister and Home Minister and advise the MP not to endanger the lives of the people of Bhubaneswar.