Nizamuddin gathering a criminal act, says Kejriwal govt

The Delhi government has described the congregation at the Markaz Tablighi Jamath at Hazrat Nizamuddin as a criminal act that was carried out in violation of prohibitory orders that were already in place in the national capital banning large gatherings in an effort to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, keen that criminal action must follow for allowing such a large gathering in the midst of the restrictions put in place in view of the coronavirus outbreak, has already asked the Delhi Police to register an FIR against the maulana of the Markaz.

The Delhi government had on March 13—exercising powers conferred by the Delhi Epidemic Diseases, COVID-19, Regulations, 2020, and the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897,prohibited all sports gatherings, including IPL matches, as well as conferences and seminars having 200 or more people.

According to the Delhi government, there could be no defence for hosting such a large gathering on the dates that it occurred. The congregation at the Jamath, according to the government, is a clear violation of the order, and criminal action must follow.

It is also felt that a permission to leave the premises after the lockdown would have only spurred further spread of the coronavirus.

According to a statement issued by Delhi government, “The lockdown was imposed on March 24 and it was the duty of every owner and administrator of every hotel, guesthouse, hostel and similar establishment to maintain social distancing. It looks like social distancing and quarantine protocols were not practised here.”

It was stated that after the Centre informed the Delhi government about the first positive patient at the Markaz and requested assistance, it moved all symptomatic patients to its medical facilities and as a safety precaution, all non-symptomatic contacts have been moved to the quarantine centres.