India / It's unfortunate that learned state of Kerala has eased curbs for Bakrid: IMA

New Delhi: The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has called the Kerala government’s decision to ease COVID-19 restrictions on the occasion of Eid al-Adha as “unwarranted and inappropriate” at this time of medical emergency.

Urging the state government to withdraw the order, the IMA said that when many states like J&K, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttaranchal have stopped popular pilgrimage yatras, it is unfortunate to see that Kerala has taken this decision which will pave the wave for mass gatherings.

“In the larger interest of the country and wellbeing of humanity, the IMA strongly urges the Kerala government to withdraw the order immediately, enforce zero-tolerance against COVID-19 appropriate behaviour, and do not deviate from its statutory duty and vision to ensure the safety of the state and nation as a whole,” the IMA said.

‘Will approach the Supreme Court if...’

It further said that it would be constrained to knock the pedestals of the Supreme Court if the state fails to enforce COVID-19 appropriate behaviour and become a model state to curtain the rising menace of COVID-19 by withdrawing this decision.

The BJP and Congress have attacked the Kerala government over its decision to grant relaxations on Bakrid.

While Union Minister and BJP leader V Muraleedharan said that the Pinarayi Vijayan government is not following a scientific approach to contain COVID-19 and impose lockdown, Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi termed relaxations as a “deplorable act”.

 ‘If Kanwar Yatra is wrong, so is Bakrid public celebrations’

“Deplorable act by the Kerala government to provide three days relaxations for Bakra eid celebrations especially because it's one of the hotbeds for COVID-19 at present. If Kanwar Yatra is wrong, so is Bakra Eid public celebrations,” he said in a tweet.

Kerala reported 16,148 new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday with 114 fresh fatalities taking the death toll in the state to 15,269.

13,197 patients recovered from the disease and 1,50,108 sample tests were conducted in the last 24 hours with a test positivity rate of 10.76 per cent.