Kathmandu. The corona pandemic has taken a dangerous turn now as the daily graph is breaking records every day. Today (Wednesday) alone, 4364 new cases have been confirmed positive out of 18,700 tests performed which is 22 percent of the total sample tested today. This has led Nepali Congress (NC) leader Gagan Thapa to make aggressive remarks upon Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli..

NC leader Thapa blamed PM Oli for not paying heed to suggestions when corona infection had not spread in the community. He commented negatively on Oli’s act of prioritizing cabinet restructuring at this time of urgency. There was an internal conflict in the ruling party from June to mid September, and after that the two chairs of the party have been meeting almost every day. Their discussions are centered on the reshuffling of cabinet  rather than the COVID-19  pandemic.

Thapa is wary of the current situation. There have been less COVID-19 tests lately outside Kathmandu Valley, but the movement of public has increased due to upcoming festivals. The arrangement inside the valley itself is very weak. If complication arises, there is no place for the patients to go- no beds in the isolation wards or the Intensive Care Units (ICU)

”We informed the PM time and again about the looming danger and also suggested the ways to overcome the health disaster. The PM didn’t have time to ponder over our suggestions. There was time, means and help at hand, what lacked was prudence. Arrogance  and ‘Mr know it all’ attitude of the PM has led us to the brink of a precipice,”  Thapa posted on a  social networking site.

Addressing the PM directly, he adds, “The pandemic is still not in your priority. It’s not the time to divide ministries among you but to resolve the crisis created by the disease. Choose proper advisors and listen to the  frontline workers. Let us stand together in the fight against COVID-19. Do something,, Mr Prime Ministe!”

NC leader Thapa has tested positive for corona and is in home isolation himself.