Agra: When Agra mayor Navin Jain shot out a missive to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and his deputy Dinesh Sharma on April 21, appealing to save the Taj city from turning a Wuhan, the desperation and helplessness of the elected representatives was loud and clear.
Like most locals, the two MPs and nine MLAs, all of the BJP, have all privately expressed concern and dissatisfaction with the approach and working of the state government machinery in Agra, which has no road map nor a strategy to deal with the Covid-19 crisis.
The Mayor, whose letter was leaked Saturday, remarked that there was a discernible improvement in services.
Interestingly, Priyanka Vadra has referred to the Mayor's letter in her tweet on Sunday.
Local MP S.P. Singh Baghel met the District Magistrate and other officials to bring to their notice the problems people were facing. Baghel said people were not getting medical facilities, food supplies and were being ill-treated.
Covid-19 suspects and patients are being hounded and treated like stigmatised non-humans, allege the sufferers, family members and those directly affected.
Human rights violations are on the rise, as police personnel out of frustration and overwork are resorting to rough behaviour, say the victims. Three days ago, 70 patients were dispatched to Saifai hospital at midnight. However, reports from there suggest conditions are no better than Agra.
Those quarantined in Agra complain of lack of medical facilities. Even food and water are in short supply, according to messages on social media platforms.