As Etala starts constituency trek, health officials say padayatras must be avoided

Hyderabad: With the Delta variant of the Coronavirus spreading fast in Telangana, "This is not the time for political parties to organise padayatras, rallies and public meetings, and there must be restraint on the part of all," the state health department made clear on Tuesday.

The advisory comes in the context of former minister and BJP leader Etala Rajendar embarking on a padayatra in Huzurabad Assembly constituency. Polls are expected there following his resignation as an MLA.

The BJP has also chalked out an elaborate plan for a padayatra by its state president Bandi Sanjay. Also, the Congress has raised its pitch through a series of protest meetings and march plans to target the TRS government.

Asked if there was a surge or spike in Covid-19 cases in Huzurabad constituency, the medical education director said cases were increasing in four mandals of the constituency.

“Political activity has increased. Such activity is normal in a democracy but this is not the time for it,” Dr Srinivasa Rao said.

Not just the Opposition parties and their leaders, but ruling party leaders are also getting hyper-active on the political front these days. Ruling party MLAs and MLCs are violating Covid-19 safety protocols by taking part in crowded meetings, and some of them do not wear masks, and are attending religious celebrations where no one follows any safety norm.

“When they speak in public without wearing a mask, they should realize that the Delta variant is deadly and spreads through the air and through spittle that is emitted while speaking. It just takes a few seconds for the virus to spread in a crowd,” Dr Rao said.