BENGALURU/MANGALURU: While the state’s Covid-19 technical advisory committee has suggested the government impose night curfew from December 26 to January 1, home minister
Basavaraj Bommai and his cabinet colleague, health minister
K Sudhakar, voiced diametrically opposite views on the issue of imposing restrictions on
New Year celebrations.
While Bommai, in Mangaluru, said the government has no plans to impose night curfew to prevent the spread of the SARSCoV2 virus during New Year celebrations, Sudhakar favoured restrictions, saying, “This is not our New year. Our New Year is Ugadi. So why should there be celebrations on December 31?”
Bommai said the government will chalk out safety plans to prevent the spread of the virus during celebrations. “We have not discussed imposing night curfew,” the home minister said. “However, our advisers have suggested large gatherings should be avoided. The government will take necessary measures in this direction soon.”
Bommai also said Sudhakar will hold meetings to discuss curbs to be imposed and he will take a final call. “Overall, the government wants to ensure all safety measures are in place, based on suggestions from experts,” Bommai said. “There are many measures other than night curfew that the government may adopt to prevent large gatherings.”
Sudhakar, who left Congress and joined BJP a year ago, said the government is studying the need and necessity for curfew in the state during Christmas and the run up to New Year as suggested by the technical advisory committee.
“I am yet to get their report,” Sudhakar said. “Once I get it, I will look into and discuss with the chief minister and cabinet colleagues before taking a decision.”
Justifying the need for possible curbs on movement of people during the last week of the year, Sudhakar said the recommendation was made keeping in mind lack of space when celebrations happen. He said hundreds of people crowd in places like Brigade Road and MG Road in Bengaluru on New Year’s Eve. “We will take cognizance of these matters while taking a decision,” he said.