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.