Mouthpieces prove TN political parties are breaking social distancing rules

The photos carried in the newspapers owned by political parties prove their cadres have been throwing social distancing norms to the wind.
Mouthpieces prove TN political parties are breaking social distancing rules

CHENNAI:  All top political leaders have been parroting the importance of social distancing. But do the political parties practice what they preach? The photos published by the political parties in newspapers affiliated to them or social media are proof enough.

When Express went through the newspapers and the photos, it is evident that most political parties across the spectrum are not following social distancing in their own events. This is when the state has already lost a legislator to COVID 19.

For example, the photo uploaded by the Congress state unit president KS Alagiri on Facebook on June 19 was a sapling planting event at Thanjavur to mark the birthday of the Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. Though most of the participants were wearing masks, the social distancing was hardly maintained as some were seen standing brushing against another. A child too was standing in the middle of the adults and he was not wearing a mask.

The scene is not very different in the events organised by the ruling AIADMK party. On June 22, the party's newspaper 'Puratchi Thalaivi Namadhu Amma' carried a bunch of photos of various events organised by the party in places including North Chennai, which has reported a large number of COVID 19 positive cases. Though many were wearing masks, in all the photos the party leaders and cadre were so crowded leaving no space at all between them. The other places where similar events were organised were Kancheepuram, Nagapattinam, Salem and Erode.

In some of the events where social distancing norms were open flouted had the state ministers participating.

The principal opposition party DMK has been a strong critic of the government in this regard. It has pointed out that social distancing was not followed in events organised by the government and ministers. But how about the events organised by the party? On June 20, the party's newspaper 'Murasoli' carried a photo of an event attended by the former union minister A Raja. The event was to distribute relief materials at Bhavanisagar in Erode district. It is evident from the photo that the spot was so crowded. Though Raja was wearing a mask, it was not covering the nose and mouth. The mask was pulled down to the chin. Others standing next to Raja were not even wearing masks.

This was not a lone case. Many of the photos carried by Murasoli shows that social distancing was given a go by in various events organised by the party.

The CPM invariably mentions in all their press notes on the protests by the party that social distancing will be strictly followed during the protests. But a perusal of the party's 'Theekkathir' on various dates shows this is not the reality. An example is the photo carried on June 20 in the newspaper on the protest over fuel price hike.

Express contacted spokespersons of a few of the political parties and they were not willing to comment in the issue. GK Murali, a senior funcationary of Congress, said even in government events social distancing norms are not being followed. "Then how can you expect it to be followed in the events by a political party? We try our best and sometimes people forget. We will try to follow social distancing in upcoming events." he said.

Check out some of the photos published in party mouthpieces here:

AIADMK

DMK

CONGRESS
 

CPM
 


AMMK

Related Stories

No stories found.
The New Indian Express
www.newindianexpress.com