Giridih/Ranchi: Member of Parliament (MP) from Unnao, Sakshi Maharaj getting quarantined in Giridih, Jharkhand and being let off within a day has once again proved how strong Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s information system is, and it can build a narrative in its favour.
The five times controversial MP, when asked for permission to visit Giridih was permitted with a remark that he will have to ‘quarantine’ for 14 days, a norm set by central government itself. The message was sent to him on Friday night, said a source in Jharkhand Chief Minister Office (CMO).
Sakshi Maharaj was in Giridih to visit Gurumata of Shanti Bhavan, with which the MP is associated and he often visit. On Saturday, when he was to return, district administration officials told him to remain in quarantine, but the BJP MP stated that since the Parliament session to is to begin from Monday and as a member of the standing committee, he needs to be there. The MP, to avoid police action, also used a different route to reach Dhanbad, from where he was to take a train to Delhi.
But at Pirtand, Giridih Sub-divisional Magistrate (SDM) and Indian Administrative Officer Prerna Dixit stopped him and asked him to remain in quarantine at Shanti Bhavan itself.
After the incident, BJP leaders and its information system come into action. BJP leaders cited Tej Pratap Yadav, son of Lalu Yadav as an example, who recently visited the RJD Supremo with a cavalcade in Ranchi.
Accusing Hemant Soren government in Jharkhand having double standard, BJP leaders also warned of protest, if Sakshi Maharaj was not let out of quarantine within 24 hours.
“We have also met Deputy Commissioner (Rahul Sinha), Giridih and now Sakshiji Maharaj is being released,” Mahadev Dubey, BJP district president told eNewsroom.
On social media, party supporters had also got active and accused the Hemant Soren government of having double standard on the issue.
Dubey also informed that he had written a letter to SDM Dixit to get permission for protest, but that was denied.
“Yesterday itself, we had said that the MP has asked for exemption from quarantine, we will again think over it. And when his Covid-19 report was declared negative, we decided to let him go,” DC Rahul Sinha told eNewsroom.
While leaving, Sakshi Maharaj told media persons that what happened with him was unfortunate.
However, Jharkhand Mukhti Morcha (JMM) MLA from Giridih Sudivya Kumar refuted all the allegations of BJP and told eNewsroom, “BJP is only spreading misinformation on this issue. First of all, Sakshi Maharaj, who is mentioning that he has been MP several times, should act more responsibly.”
Kumar continued, “And on the issue of Tej Pratap, Ranchi administration has lodged FIR. Also, if he was travelling with several vehicles, then while coming and returning, anytime, Nitish Kumar government should have taken action against him, which did not happen.”
“And as far as the question of Sakshi Maharaj letting go within 24 hours is concerned, the MP has been released by administration on two grounds—first his Covid report was negative and second, his request that he has to attend Parliament Session on Monday,” the JMM MLA added.
The MP had also visited Shanti Bhavan in April, but as the rule to put outside travellers in quarantine came into existence in the month of July only, it was not a violation of lockdown rules that time, said the DC.
Meanwhile, on social media, some netizens has praised SDM Prerna Dixit as ‘hero’ for putting the MP, who has become synonymous with controversies, in quarantine. The 64-year-old Sakshi Maharaj is named accused in at least 34 cases.