New Delhi, March 21 (IANS) Soon after the news of Rajasthan MP Dushyant Singh coming into contact with COVID-19 infected singer Kanika Kapoor went viral, parliamentarians who came into his contact went into a tizzy.
The Jhalawar-Baran MP went to Parliament, listened to debates, attended a meeting of the Standing Committee of Transport, Tourism and Culture where he met Trinamool’s Derek O’Brien among others.
He also chatted around with other leaders at the Central Hall of Parliament, spoke to journalists and attended a dinner in Delhi where many MPs were present.
Now, many of those MPs have gone into self imposed quarantine while others are figuring out what to do.
Trinamool Congress’ Rajya Sabha member O’Brien said: “It is a very serious matter if Singh is under isolation as he was sitting near him three days ago.”
On Friday night he tweeted: “Day #1 Earlier today I put out a statement on my decision to follow protocol and #selfisolate #COVID19. Please. This is not about politics. Or grandstanding. This is a grave health emergency. Defer #Parliament. Let’s fight the #CoronavirusOutbreak together.”
In that chain of development, Rajya Sabha AAP MP Sanjay Singh on Friday announced he will go in for self quarantine as he had been meeting Trinamool Congress MP Derek O’Brien.
Anupriya Patel, former Union minister too came in Singh’s contact. She took to Twitter to announce: “I met Dushyant Singh at an event yesterday. As a precautionary measure, I have placed myself under self-isolation. I will follow the government’s directions on this.”
Now, a video has emerged where BJP leader Varun Gandhi is seen passionately debating ground water depletion and the person sitting next to him is the corona suspect MP.
The Rajasthan MP also visited the Presidnet House where an array of leaders were present.
Dushyant Singh, son of former Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje Scindia, met President Ram Nath Kovind, Union Ministers Rajnath Singh, Smriti Irani, BJP MP Ravi Kishen, BJP MP from Mathura Hema Manini, sportsperson Mary Kom, Union Minister Arjun Meghwal, former Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore among others.
Mary Kom, too, had returned from Jordan on March 13 and was suppose to be under quarantine till March 27 — 14 days, according to guidelines. But she too was at the March 18 dinner hosted by Kovind.
It’s unclear whether all have imposed a self quarantine on them. But Mary Kom issued a statement saying, “I am home since I came back from Jordan. I only attended the presidents event and did not meet Dushyant or shake hands with. My quarantine after Jordan ends but I’m going to be at home only for the next 3-4 days.”
It all started in Lucknow. Former BSP MP Akbar Ahmed Dumpy threw a birthday party on March 14, which was attended by many socialites and royals. In the list, were Uttar Pradesh Health Minister Jai Pratap Singh , Congress leader Jitin Prasad, former Chief Minister of Rajasthan Vasundhara Raje Scindia and his son Dushyant Singh among others.
Among them were also Kanika Kappor, who has now tested positive. Dushyant Singh who has met a plethora of people, mostly politicians have sent out alarms through the political circles.
–IANS
abn/in