‘Restrictions are destroying people’s livelihoods’

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has said that the restrictions that are imposed to contain the spread of COVID-19 are actually meant for suppressing people’s agitations to press for their right

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has said that the restrictions that are imposed to contain the spread of COVID-19 are actually meant for suppressing people’s agitations to press for their rights, while destroying their livelihoods.

Addressing a media conference at the party office here on Thursday, district secretary of the CPI(M) K. Neela said that the Government is booking cases against only those who are agitating to press for their rights and leaving a lot of political leaders and activists go scot-free for COVID-19 norms violations.

“Guest lecturers who have been on the street protesting seeking job security have been booked. CPI(M) leaders who protested against the anti-conversion Bill have been booked. However, BJP leaders have been spared despite them having violated COVID-19 standard operating procedures. There are hundreds of such examples where the police have selectively booked cases and left ruling party leaders go scot-free. Weekend curfew has turned out to be an additional revenue-generating means for personnel in the Police Department who forcibly extract money from common people for minor violations such as coming out during weekend curfew and roaming on the streets without wearing face masks. The same police personnel do nothing when they see violations by influential politicians. It clearly shows that the COVID-19 restrictions have been imposed more for curbing people’s voices than containing the spread of the virus,” Ms. Neela said.