Opposition to coronavirus victim's funeral in Meghalaya blot on society's consciousness: Naidu

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Friday said he was "deeply disturbed" by news reports that locals in Meghalaya resisted funeral of a doctor who died of COVID-19 fearing that it could furr spre disease, saying such incidents were a blot on society's consciousness.

Citing a newspaper report, he said re was a delay of 36 hours in funeral of Meghalaya doctor.

"Such incidents are a blot on society's consciousness and of great concern for all of us, irrespective of party, religion and region," he said in a Facebook post. "unfortunate behaviour" from locals forced Chief Minister Conr Sangma to finally intervene in matter and help resolve it, Naidu pointed out. vice president said physician's body lay for several hours in hospital he h founded after attempts to bury or cremate him were unsuccessful due to local resistance.

"re is an urgent need to educate people and remove misconceptions on COVID-19 to prevent such inhuman incidents in future," he said.

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vice president has shared his concerns on issue with home secretary and director general of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

He said it is a matter of deep anguish that such an incident occurred in spite of an visory being issued by central government in March for manment of de bodies infected with vel coronavirus.

"I urge all citizens to be empathic and respond compassionately, t react irrationally, especially during se testing times," Naidu said.

People must act responsibly and t believe in rumours, vice president said.

need of hour is to create greater social awareness among general public by various stakeholders, he opined.

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