Himanta meets Tablighi Jamaat leaders at Guwahati, requests to share list of Nizamuddin attendees

April 5: More than 800 people went to Nizamuddin Markaz in the month of March which is now regarded as the ‘hot-bed of coronavirus.’ However, there are still more than hundred residents of Assam who though went to Markaz Nizamuddin but have gone into hiding in Assam. The government has expressed the apprehension that these attendees may be potential careers of coronavirus. Repeated requests of voluntary disclosure has failed to yield any positive response.

State Health Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma is exploring all possible measures to find out the complete list of Markaz attendees from Assam. On Sunday morning, he went to met Guwahati Lakhtokia Masjid leaders where the headquarter of Tablighi Jamaat is situated. The minister requested them to cooperate with the government and make available the list of all those who went to Nizamuddin Markaz in March for it is very essential to identify them and put them in quarantine. 

Taking to twitter, Himanta Biswa Sarma wrote, “In view of situation arising out of #NizamuddinMarkaj event, we met Guwahati Lakhtokia Masjid leaders where HQ of #TablighiJamaat is situated on Sat to request them to share list of all who visited Markaz for it’s important to quarantine them.”

In view of situation arising out of #NizamuddinMarkaj event, we met Guwahati Lakhtokia Masjid leaders where HQ of #TablighiJamaat is situated on Sat to request them to share list of all who visited Markaz for it's important to quarantine them. @Pijush_hazarika @gpsinghassam pic.twitter.com/0LswioO9q9

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) April 5, 2020

A startling revelation was made by Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India on Saturday during the routine media briefing in Delhi. Till then, the total COVID-19 cases in India was 2902 (now it has crossed 3000). Lav Agarwal said that out of the total 2902 positive cases of coronavirus in the country, 1023 are linked with Nizamuddin Markaz and have been found across 17 States and Union Territories. As of Saturday, around 22,000 people including Tablighi Jamaat workers and their contacts have been quarantined as per the Ministry of Home Affairs. In Assam alone, out of 26 positive cases detected so far, 25 of them are related with Nizamuddin Markaz.

More than hundreds of people have tested positive for coronavirus and a nationwide manhunt is on for suspected cases after a large religious gathering at Delhi’s Nizamuddin that has emerged as a virus hotspot with links to several COVID-19 deaths. “Markaz Nizamuddin” is the Delhi headquarters of the Tablighi Jamaat group. Ignoring all social distancing rules to avoid the deadly coronavirus, hundreds had been staying in the 100-year-old mosque complex, which has a six-floor dormitory, since March 8, who were later on forcefully evicted by the police.