Coronavirus epicentre: Assam MP in Nizamuddin soup

Assam independent MP Naba Sarania's name was mentioned in the list released by the government which contained the names and numbers of people who had visited Nizamuddin Markaz. However, he clarified that he did not visit the Markaz.

New Delhi: Naba Sarania, an independent Lok Sabha MP from Assam was shocked when he found his mobile number in a government list being circulated by the Union Home Ministry to the Assam government.

Names and number of 456 odd people from Assam have been enlisted in the chart who had either visited Nizamuddin Markaz or its vicinity in between March 10 to 20.

Ever since congregation of Tablighi Jamaat workers at the Nizamuddin Markaz came to the light, government, on a war footing, started tracing the people who visited Markaz and came in contacts with the Tablighi Jamaat workers.

In fact, death of a few Tablighi Jamaat workers across India who were found Covid 19 positive have put alarm bells ringing in the Home Ministry.

“I visited Nizamuddin on March 15 to meet a lawyer. However, I want to clarify that I have never visited any religious place and did not come in contact with any religious preacher,” said Naba Sarania while talking to ETV Bharat in an exclusive interview.

Sarania said that he has informed the local district administration about his visit to Nizamuddin.

"I am cooperating with the local administration,” said Sarania.

The list of contacts that has been shared by the Home Ministry to Assam government also carries several other professionals including advocates, engineers, doctors and many more who visited Nizamuddin in the national capital in March.

Significantly, the lists also carry the name of people from other northeastern states too. Till recent past, all the northeastern states were out from the COVID-19 picture until two cases were detected in Mizoram and Manipur.

However, five COVID-19 positive cases have also been reported from different places of Assam in the last 24 hours. And authorities are now exploring all possibilities to find out their travel history and their contacts.

Authorities in Assam have expressed apprehension that COVID-19 positive people might have visited Nizamuddin Markaz or came in contacts with some COVID positive cases.

All the five patients had attended the congregation at Tablighi Jamaat Markaz earlier this month, said Assam Minister Hemanta Biswa Sarma.

“The number in Assam is expected to go up by this evening as some more tested positive at Jorhat Medical College Hospital, but we can declare it only after all the confirmatory tests, according to guidelines and protocol, are completed,” Sarma added.

Meanwhile, five people from Meghalaya have also reportedly visited Nizamuddin Markaz. Local authorities in Meghalaya is learnt to have started a massive search operation to trace down the people.