BJP slams KCR for making light of virus threat

Hyderabad: BJP State chief spokesperson K Krishna Saagar Rao said Chief Minister K Chandrashekara Rao's ignorance has been once again exposed with the heightened and serious escalation of control measures against the spread of coronavirus by the Government of India in the last two days.

In a statement here on Thursday, the BJP leader said that it was for the first time that India has put on hold all visas issued to foreign nationals with limited exceptions for a month.

The measure, taken to bar the entry of foreign nationals into the country, is meant to contain the spread of the deadly virus. Every nation across the world is on a heightened alert, he added.

However, Chief Minister Chandrashekar Rao was playing an irresponsible and dangerous game by trivialising coronavirus threat in the state, with his "regular slapstick comedy and histrionics", he said.

He said the Chief Minister, speaking in Assembly the other day, declared that coronavirus cannot and would not enter Telangana and also made fun of people wearing masks and downplayed its importance.

"He also asserted that the virus can't survive in the local temperature of more than 30 degrees Celsius. KCR made all these public statements a few days ago from the floor of Assembly and even claimed that paracetamol tablet can cure coronavirus infection," he said.

But, BJP finds no humour in KCR's irresponsible statements, instead, the party believes his unacceptable behaviour in the face of such a health crisis is highly condemnable, Krishna Saagar Rao said.

"KCR's frivolous statements can directly impact the levels of alertness and preparedness of both general public and public health department teams across the state and lead to a possible health disaster in the state," he said.

The BJP spokesperson alleged that taking a cue from KCR, the state health minister and his department seems to have stopped reporting the spread, suspected cases and confirmed coronavirus cases since those callous remarks.

This carelessness and deceptive approach by KCR and TRS government can endanger the lives of the general public in the state, he warned.

He demanded that the Chief Minister apologise for his carelessness and irresponsibility as the head of the state, especially at a time utmost caution and preparedness were required to fight this deadly contagion.

Further, he demanded health minister Eatala Rajender do his job sincerely and report the accurate situation in the state related to coronavirus spread.