Chennai Police Stops Ambulance & Commuters To Allow VIP Convoy To Pass, Video Sparks Outrage
Chennai Police stopped an ambulance along with other commuters to allow a VIP convoy to pass uninterrupted. Commuters could be seen standing at a distance from one another with their faces covered in masks as a precautionary measure against the spread of the virus.
It¡¯s a sad state of affairs when the VIP culture refuses to die down even as the country battles a pandemic. In Chennai, the policemen on duty stopped an ambulance, along with other commuters to allow a VIP convoy to pass uninterrupted, clearly showing that priorities are completely misplaced.
ANI
Reports state that barricades had been set up by the Chennai Police to stop the commuters from passing.
#WATCH An ambulance and commuters were stopped by Chennai Police near Island Grounds intersection to allow VIP convoy to pass, today. #Chennai pic.twitter.com/0gdvHOhrFX
¡ª ANI (@ANI) April 27, 2020
In the video commuters could be seen standing at a distance from one another, with their faces covered in masks, as a precautionary measure against the spread of the virus.
The Chennai police denied claims about the Ambulance carrying any patient and said that it was empty at the time.
However, some claimed otherwise - a Twitter user wrote, ¡®I took this visual my self sir. I saw patients inside both the ambulance. After announcement came in police walkie talkie that CM convoy left, ambulance, press vehicles and other essential vehicles were allowed to pass through¡¯.
I took this visual my self sir. I saw patients inside both the ambulance. After announcement came in police walkie talkie that CM convoy left, ambulance, press vehicles and other essential vehicles were allowed to pass through.
¡ª Ronald (@ronaldchennai) April 27, 2020
Soon after the video went viral, the senior opposition members, including DMK leader Kanimozhi condemned the incident.
Police clarified that the VIP convoy did not belong to the CM and the vehicles had been stopped for check because of lockdown violations.
Congratulations CM! A few days ago, you brought entire cities out on to the road because of your lockdown within a lockdown. Now, you bring the city traffic and ambulances to a standstill. Your humility is amazing.
¡ª Kanimozhi (???????) (@KanimozhiDMK) April 27, 2020
'Congratulations CM! A few days ago, you brought entire cities out on to the road because of your lockdown within a lockdown. Now, you bring the city traffic and ambulances to a standstill. Your humility is amazing', Kanimozi said in a tweet.
The DMK leader's comment was a jibe at Palaniswami's decision to tighten the coronavirus lockdown in five cities including Chennai, Coimbatore, Tiruppur, Salem and Madurai.
