Former Maharashtra minister Arif Naseem Khan questions Kharghar event amid rise in Covid cases

THANE: Former minister and Congress leader Arif Naseem Khan has questioned how the state allowed and organised the mega Maharashtra Bhushan event at Kharghar when the Covid cases in the state were on the rise and demanded a judicial probe claiming the volume of casualties was much higher than what is shown.
“On one hand, the state was releasing data and cautionary information about rising Covid cases and how did it allow such an event with lakhs of attendees to be conducted. The number of deaths and injuries is much higher than what is officially circulated. No one from the government has visited the bereaved families except for releasing a paltry sum as compensation. I have demanded a judicial probe in the incident and higher compensation package, rehabilitation for the kin of the deceased in the Kharghar tragedy,” Khan said while talking to the media in Thane, Monday.
The former minister also alleged the involvement of a close aide of the chief minister in the Kharghar event management company and has called for stern police action against the organisers.