Himanta Biswa Sarma Justifies ‘Mask’ Comment, Says 'Assam Has Contained Covid-19'

“Those who are making fun on my statement on mask, must come to Assam and see how we have contained COVID-19 in compare to the states like Delhi, Kerala, and Maharashtra along with impressive recovery of our economy. We will celebrate Bihu also with the same enthusiasm this year,” he tweeted.

(File Photo/ Getty)

Guwahati: Assam’s Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who drew flak over his remarks stating the people need not wear masks, on Sunday hit back at his critics and said the state has contained the Covid-19 pandemic well along with “impressive recovery of economy”.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader also said those making fun of his statements must visit Assam and take stock of the situation.

“Those who are making fun on my statement on mask, must come to Assam and see how we have contained COVID-19 in compare to the states like Delhi, Kerala, and Maharashtra along with impressive recovery of our economy. We will celebrate Bihu also with the same enthusiasm this year,” he tweeted.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Those who are making fun on my statement on mask, must come to Assam and see how we have contained COVID-19 in compare to the states like Delhi, Kerala, and Maharashtra along with impressive recovery of our economy.We will celebrate Bihu also with the same enthusiasm this year</p>&mdash; Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) <a href="https://twitter.com/himantabiswa/status/1378589673233129479?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel='nofollow'>April 4, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Shiv Sena leader Priyanka Chaturvedi, who was among those to take potshots at Sarma over his remarks, said “this is too much of confidence”.

“This is too much of misplaced confidence. A country raging with COVID cases, for him to declare- No need to wear masks, Assam has no COVID is extremely dangerous& fuelled by politics. And that bit about parlours? So flippant,” she tweeted.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">This is too much of misplaced confidence. A country raging with COVID cases, for him to declare- No need to wear masks,Assam has no COVID is extremely dangerous&amp; fuelled by politics. And that bit about parlours? So flippant. <a href="https://t.co/AdlSpQaZcb" rel='nofollow'>pic.twitter.com/AdlSpQaZcb</a></p>&mdash; Priyanka Chaturvedi (@priyankac19) <a href="https://twitter.com/priyankac19/status/1378567428209213440?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel='nofollow'>April 4, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Continuing her diatribe against Sarma, the Shiv Sena leader in another tweet said: “We have the first state in the country or rather the world whose Health Minister has declared it COVID free and has advised no masks needed, no COVID protocols to be followed either. We must all celebrate the feat& get WHO to endorse it! I urge GoI to do the needful!”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">We have the first state in the country or rather the world whose Health Minister has declared it COVID free and has advised no masks needed, no COVID protocols to be followed either. We must all celebrate the feat&amp; get WHO to endorse it! I urge GoI to do the needful!</p>&mdash; Priyanka Chaturvedi (@priyankac19) <a href="https://twitter.com/priyankac19/status/1378595113241243650?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel='nofollow'>April 4, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Speaking in an interview to The Lallantop earlier on Saturday, Sarma said the people of Assam need not wear masks as a protective measure against Covid-19 because the deadly viral disease is no more in the state. He also wondered as to why the people should wear masks and “create panic” when Covid-19 has already left Assam.

Sarma’s comment comes at a time when the country is reeling under a second wave of Covid-19 as over 90,000 new cases have been reported in the last 24 hours. 12 states and Union Territories have shown an upward trajectory of Covid-19 cases. Maharashtra has reported the highest daily new cases at 49,447 followed by Chhattisgarh with 5,818 cases while Karnataka reported 4,373 new cases.