Bhubaneswar: In the wake of reports of returnees violating quarantine norms in the State, reiterating the advice of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Odisha’s Chief Spokesperson on COVID-19, Subroto Bagchi, on Monday warned that all returnees will lose sympathy of their fellow citizens because of the indiscipline behaviour of few.
Bagchi said, the population of Odisha is 4.5 crore and as many as 8,830 persons have returned to Odisha in the last 24 hours, while around 4.92 lakh people are expected to return in coming days.
Because of the indiscipline behaviour of few from among those who have returned, all others will lose the sympathy of 4.5 crore Odias. Returnees who are misbehaving and putting life of others in danger will also lose the sympathy of their villagers.
Bagchi warned that persons who flee from the quarantine centres to their houses are pushing the elderly of their families towards death and their children towards a pandemic.
He questioned what will be the situation if the health workers, doctors and police who are working for others by sacrificing their food and sleep stop providing these services owing to the behaviour of such indisciplined returnees.
Bagchi said the persons displaying indiscipline such as running away from the quarantine centre or throwing the food being provided to think could they have displayed the same behaviour in the State from where they have returned.
He asserted that at such times, the State Government will think only about the benefit of many. If 10 per cent out of the 5 lakh persons because of their irresponsibility push others in the State towards danger, the administration will exercise all its powers to take action against them.
Running from quarantine centres and hiding may be possible in other States, but not in Odisha. It will take only few hours to find any person who have ran away from a quarantine facility, said Bagchi.
He advised not to test the patience of the administration and follow the advice of the Chief Minister. There will be hardships and the situation demands sacrifice which is being done by all. With this, Bagchi requested all the returnees to maintain discipline.