PANJIM: The State government has identified and quarantined 46 Maulanas, all non-Goans, who had attended the Tablighi Jammat meeting organised at Hazrat Nizammudin Dargah in New Delhi. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has appealed to all participants of the congregation to come forward and inform the authorities about their Nizamuddim visit.
“We are yet to get proof of everyone’s travel history although they have told us they came to Goa before March 15. I request our Muslim brothers to inform the government if they attended the congregation in Nizammudin, so that they are quarantined. In fact, anyone who is in the know of any individual returning from Tablighi Jammat should immediately inform the police or control room or helpline numbers. People should cooperate for the sake of the country, for Goa,” he said, addressing the media at his official residence at Altinho on Thursday.
Emphasising that the intention is not to target any particular religion, the CM added that police have already launched a massive hunt to zero-in on Maulanans and/or individuals who attended the meeting and failed to report to the authorities. Sawant sought the support of the people to help identify them.
A visibly upset CM also said that Goa could go into an ‘unsafe zone’ if further cases surface. “All 46 identified and quarantined are non-Goans. They don’t have their families in Goa but have put the lives of others at risk. We also have to probe their intention to come to Goa. The Goan population should know because of whom we might get into an unsafe zone. We are so far better than other States. I therefore again appeal people to help us identify those who came back from this congregation,” he stated, appealing to the people to not give shelter to the returnees in the best interest of society. “I again say we are not against any particular caste or religion but we are here to stop the spread of COVID-19. So let’s all be responsible,” he added.
Of the 46 who have been quarantined, 16 Jamaat members were picked from Fatorda, followed by 13 from Vasco, nine from Ponda and four each from Old Goa and Bicholim. The CM has appealed to all the religious heads to ask people not to gather at any place, including at religious institutions.
Fortunately, reports of samples taken in the last couple of days have been negative. “We have tightened preventive measures because of which the situation is under control,” Sawant said.
After the lockdown, the government will set up an Economic Revival Team to work how the Statess financial strength would be regained after the lockdown period ends.
The government has also granted parole to prisoners, who had already applied for it. Not everyone has been sent on parole.
