The BJP deputy, however, refused to enter institutional quarantine.
Agartala:
A suo moto case was filed Sunday evening against the BJP lawmaker and former Minister of Health Sudip Roy Barman for violating COVID-19 standards and “unauthorized” entry into the Covid care center.
The BJP lawmaker got into trouble after visiting his constituency center in Agartala, carrying a PPE kit, after a patient posted videos on social media illustrating the lack of proper arrangements at the facility.
Mr. Barman was also invited to remain in institutional quarantine of 14 days by the magistrate of the register of Western Tripura to “ensure his safety and that of the community as a whole”.
The BJP deputy, however, refused to enter institutional quarantine, alleging an ulterior motive.
He asked why the memorandum issued by the district magistrate against him reached the media and went viral on social media before it even reached him.
It all started on Sunday when Mr. Barman visited Bhagat Singh Yuba Awas to take stock of the conditions there as numerous allegations of negligence had been raised against the center.
Recently, a pregnant woman was posted on Facebook, seeking help from the state government, alleging “pathetic conditions” at the center.
“The deplorable living conditions at the center moved me. Whatever the reasons, strict monitoring is necessary for the safety and comfort of patients,” Barman told the media alongside the patients.
The MLA also distributed fruit to the patients.
West Tripura District Magistrate Sandeep Mahatme N has found Mr Barman guilty of violating guidelines set by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, for ‘unauthorized’ entry into a Covid health facility , where only “authorized and trained persons or those designated to work in these fields” are permitted.
Mr Barman, however, said: “First, I should have been clinically assigned as a very mild / mild, moderate, severe pre-symptomatic or asymptomatic Covid patient by a doctor to be quarantined. Second, I had put on PPE. Kit advised by qualified doctors stationed at the Bhagat Singh Covid care center and having taken all precautionary measures not to be contaminated and to have maintained more than 1 meter of distance from Covid patients Thirdly, I go to the CCC (Covid Care Center) was known to the DHS (Direction des Services de Santé), as well as the MS (Medical Supervisor) of the GB Pant hospital and therefore my entry was not unauthorized. Since then, a prior notification had reached the people concerned, that is to say the reason immediately after my arrival, the main door was opened and the doctors present took me to the locker room where the PPE kit was given to me. . “
Mr Barman, who was sacked from the state cabinet in June last year, had sharply criticized the BJP government led by Biplab Deb on various issues.
