Nizamuddin Markaz: "193 people are still hiding in Assam," Himanta says he's "frustrated"  

By now, the number has shot up to 16 in Assam spread across Barak Valley, Upper and Lower Assam. In an interview with Republic TV’s Arnab Goswami on Wednesday, Himanta Biswa Sarma said that all the measures taken by the state government to isolate Assam from the rest of the country mean nothing today. “There are 193 people who are still hiding, who were at the Nizamuddin Markaz. I am very frustrated today, why are you hiding and not coming out for the benefit of your own family, friends, community, state, and country. Don’t you love your people, your country?” Sarma shared his anguish on Arnab’s show.

Sarma said that around 500 people were tested in Assam and not a single person was tested positive till March 31, 2020. However, now all 16 positive cases have a history of staying at the Nizamuddin Markaz in New Delhi which is now the largest viral vector in India. Tablighi Jamaat is an evangelical Muslim organisation which hosts meetings all over the country. Not only India, in fact, but it also had meetings in Malaysia in February 2020, when there were no travel restrictions, went on to become the largest viral vector of Southeast Asia. While the meeting in India was held between March 13-15 the preparations were going on since the beginning of the month. Also, the Nizamuddin Markaz remains open all throughout the year and people from across the world halt there. It has been confirmed that a huge number of people including foreign nationals stayed at the Nizamuddin Markaz in the month of February and March.

Sarma during his press conference said, “In the Markaz, around six people eat food on the same plate which is why there is higher probability of transmission.”

Yesterday, during his interaction with Arnab Goswami, Sarma said he is pleased with the way Maulana Badaruddin Azmal has requested everyone to disclose their travel history to Nizamuddin Markaz. “We have announced our helpline numbers and with joined hands, I request everyone to call the helpline or inform their respective deputy commissioners about their travel. If anyone has come in contact with those who visited Nizamuddin Markaz should also reach out to the helpline or nearest health center.”

Sarma added, “We have already announced that we will keep people at home-quarantine or hotel-quarantine so there is nothing to worry about. Also, there is no stigma attached to this disease, it can happen to someone in my family too. It takes 28 days of isolation along with treatment and the patient will be fine.”