BJP MLA at Atal tunnel inauguration tests Covid positive

Lawmaker Surendra Shourie from Banjar assembly constituency tested positive on October 2 but before seeing the test result he set off for the inauguration the following day where he is thought to have made contact with many guests including ministers.

Shimla: At the inaugural function of the Atal Tunnel Rohtang on October 3 where Prime Minister Narendra Modi was present along with many other ministers, a BJP MLA has tested coronavirus positive, thereby putting at risk all the dignitaries present at the venue.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Minister of State for Finance Anurag Thakur, Chief Minister Jairam Thakur were also present at the high-profile event.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA, Surendra Shourie from Banjar assembly seat of Kullu district gave samples for corona test on 1 October after which his report came positive on the evening of 2 October.

During this time, MLA Surendra Shourie reached Solanganala where the PM was to address the public meeting after the inauguration. It is there the MLA came in contact with the Chief Minister and other ministers.

MLA's Callousness

Shourie, after giving his sample on 1 October ignored the precautions related to COVID-19 and reached the rally site without waiting for the test report to come and came in contact with other ministers, leaders and officials including the CM.

Although the MLA was not aware of being Corona positive during all these meetings but based on the precautionary guidelines and the rules related to COVID-19, the MLA should have waited for the report after giving a sample for investigation.

The MLA did not isolate himself after giving the sample, which was mandatory.

Corona scare hovers over CM, PM

After the inauguration, CM Jairam Thakur reached Shimla and isolated himself as a precautionary measure. It is being told that Chief Minister Jairam Thakur and Cabinet Minister Rakesh Pathania were the primary contacts of MLA Surendra Shourie.

Forest Minister Rakesh Pathania said that they received the information about Shourie being Corona positive only after the Chief Minister announced that he would be quarantined.

He said that they had met Shourie from a distance and both were wearing masks. Nevertheless, he has quarantined himself under the COVID protocol.

After the quarantine of the Chief Minister, more than half a dozen leaders have also quarantined themselves, including CM's political advisor Trilok Jamwal and BJP's General Secretary Pawan Rana.