New Delhi, July 11 BJP Vice President Vinay Sahasrabuddhe has given Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray five suggestions to allay concerns and apprehensions of people amid, what the BJP leader calls, the state government's "reimposing of lockdown". He argued for opening up instead of levying curbs and even warned of people's "anguish".
As part of his 5-point suggestion, he advised that personal distancing needs to be ensured along with provisions of stringent fines for not wearing masks in public places. He also advised that the government should explore possibility of "further stringent punshments" for repeat offenders.
He also suggested that the government make it mandatory to carry hand sanitisers while moving out of home and people should be steeply fined if found violating the rule. Sahasrabuddhe advocated framing strict rules for even while driving or using public or private vehicles.
But, asserting his stand for opening up rather than closing down businesses, he wrote: "All kinds of shops should be allowed to operate as per routine in order to avoid crowding in limited hours. For big shops, where customers enter into the shop, strict adherence to the rules of personal distancing, masks and hand wash" should be ensured.
Telling Thackeray that open air plays a crucial role in preventing the deadly Covid-19 pandemic, the senior BJP leader advised: "Public gardens, temples, and open gyms should be allowed to operate with strict adherence to social distancing and wearing of masks."
The BJP's Rajya Sabha MP wrote this letter citing media reports that said the state government wants to reimpose lockdown in several municipal corporations in Maharashtra. He claimed, there is a larger confusion among public regarding the same and his letter is to convey the "anguish" of people from taking any "ugly shape".
The media reports Sahasrabuddhe referred to spoke about Maharashtra government's decision to implement fresh lockdown in Thane, Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, and Nanded areas starting from Monday.
( With inputs from IANS )