Govt tells MP Yadav to stay home after his visit to quarantine in India

KATHMANDU, April 10: Ministry of Home Affairs has directed the District Administration Office (DAO), Parsa to keep Samajbadi Party lawmaker Pradip Yadav in quarantine after he was found to have visited a quarantine center in Raxaul near the Nepal-India border.

Officials at the home ministry said they decided to keep MP Yadav in quarantine after the lawmaker was found to breaching the guidelines of quarantine by meeting the people kept in quarantine.

“The ministry has directed the Chief District Officer of Parsa to take House of Representatives Member Yadav in quarantine for his visit to a quarantine center across the border,” said Kiran Bhattarai, press advisor to the home minister.

The government has sealed the open border with India since March 24 to prevent the Covid-19 spread in the country. Nepal and India have arranged quarantine facilities for citizens of each other countries, who are stuck in the border areas.

Yadav confirmed his visit to a quarantine center in Raxaul to meet Nepali citizens stranded across the border to take stock of their condition.

“I was surprised after the CDO called me today and asked me to stay at home. I had consulted with him when I decide to visit the quarantine,” said Yadav. “I have also abided by the WHO criteria by maintaining one and half meter distance while meeting them.”

Stating that he will abide by the request from the DAO, Yadav said that his rivals in the district had conspired against him while he tried to help Nepali citizens in problem.

“Everything was all right until yesterday and even the CDO didn't have any problem with my visit. But it seems someone played a political game against me and took the issue to the home ministry,” he said.