Assam’s Health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who was recently barred by the Election Commission from campaigning  for Assembly polls over an alleged threat to a candidate,  landed in another row with his comments on wearing masks. “There in no need to wear mask and corona is gone from the state,”  he was quoted as saying by a news website. 

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This comes at a time when India is grappling with the second COVID-19 wave raging through the country. Twice this week, the number of daily infections crossed the six-digit mark.  

When reminded that the central government was repeatedly asking everyone to follow guidelines strictly and to wear masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19, he said, “In the context of Assam, COVID is not there in the state, when needed I will ask people to wear mask,” reports Lallantop.

Sarma added that the main motive of the state government was to revive the economy, if people continued to will wear masks, “how will beauty parlours function?” 

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Here’s the video of the minister stating that wearing mask is not needed:

His comment drew sharp responses from people across the country after COVID cases have risen to new hight in the past weeks. 

For the first time since the pandemic began, India recorded daily COVID cases in six digits twice this week. At such time, when politicians should spread awareness on wearing masks, Sarma’s statement comes as a surprise for all.

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The health minister tweeted to back his statement for not wearing masks: