Lockdown to combat Coronavirus unconstitutional: AIMIM Chief Owaisi

TIL Desk/National/Hyderabad/ AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi has termed the ongoing lockdown in the country to combat COVID-19 “unconstitutional” even as he demanded that the NDA government take measures to provide relief to distressed migrant workers. “…..this lockdown is unconstitutional. Government of India cannot bring lockdown in the entire country under National Disaster Management Act, Epidemic Act. This is against federalism. This is state subject. I don’t know why state governments are silent,” he said.

Citing the recent deaths of 16 migrant workers who were run over by a goods train at Aurangabad in Maharashtra, Owaisi claimed the lockdown was unplanned and said the migrant labourers were in distress. Observing that migrant workers were walking hundreds of kilometres to reach their native places, he wanted to know what the NDA government has done for them.

On combating the coronavirus, he stressed the importance of maintaining social distancing and treating COVID-19 patients without any hate. Amid rising coronavirus cases in the country, the AIMIM leader urged people at Malegaon in Maharashtra, where the virus is spreading fast, to ensure social distancing and discipline. He also appealed to the Maharashtra Chief Minister and others in the state government to pay attention towards Malegaon.