Derek isolates self after coming in contact with Dushyant Singh

New Delhi: Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Derek O'Brien went into self-quarantine on Friday. In a Twitter post, he shared a video where he stated that he was staying in isolation at his residence after he met BJP MP Dushyant Singh during the Transport Parliamentary Standing Committee meeting and sat beside him for almost two hours. Dushyant had attended a party by singer Kanika Kapoor, who tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday.

Derek mentioned that the government was putting everyone at risk as Parliament session was still underway. He said he sat next to Dushyant but was wearing a mask. Thereafter, O'Brien demanded the deferment of the Parliament session as several MPs, including Apna Dal's Anupriya Patel, have gone into self-quarantine.

"There are two more MPs who are in self-isolation. The session should be deferred," he added.

Hitting out at the government, O'Brien said that on one side they are talking of self-isolation and on the other hand they are continuing with the Parliament session.

"Parliament has hardly discussed Coronavirus. The Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha discussed COVID-19 for only 3 per cent of total time. Is this how governments inspire confidence in crisis? Defer session! Stop conflicting messaging," O'Brien said. His party colleague Sukhendu Shekhar Roy too has announced self-isolation.

"I was present at an event yesterday and Dushyant Singh was also present at the event. As a precaution, I am going for self-isolation. I will follow the necessary guidelines by the government," tweeted Anupriya Patel.

Earlier, MoS External Affairs V Muraleedharan had self-quarantined after he visited a Kerala-based medical institute whose hospital later reported a Coronavirus case.

Former Union Minister Suresh Prabhu too quarantined himself at his residence for the next 14 days as a precautionary measure following his return from Saudi Arabia to attend a meeting on March 10.

Dushyant, along with his mother Vasundhara Raje, has gone into self-isolation after attending a dinner with the singer. Kanika Kapoor has become the first Bollywood celebrity to test positive for Coronavirus in the country and says she's under complete quarantine and medical care.

There were reports that she landed in Lucknow from the United Kingdom and was admitted in a city hospital after she showed signs of flu. According to sources, after attending the party in Lucknow along with the singer who is now undergoing treatment, Dushyant also attended an industrialist and former MP's birthday party and one more party. Dushyant also attended the BJP parliamentary party meeting on March 17.

Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Health Minister Jai Pratap Singh on Friday took a test for coronavirus as it emerged that he also was at the party went into self-isolation.

Noida MLA and BJP state general secretary Pankaj Singh, Jewar MLA Dhirendra Singh and Dadri MLA Tejpal Nagar took to Twitter to say they are going into-self isolation as a precautionary measure as they had met the health minister on Thursday in Greater Noida.