Chandigarh, May 2, 2020 (Yes Punjab News)
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today asked chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh to explain why the government was silent and impervious to the suffering of pilgrims who had been repatriated from Sri Hazur Sahib and had not fixed responsibility for their maltreatment in State quarantine facilities.
In a statement here, party Spokesman Dr Daljit Singh Cheema said it was shocking that despite a hue and cry among people at the unhygienic conditions under which the pilgrims had been quarantined, the chief minister had not deigned it fit to order an inquiry into the matter. “It is because of the utter insensitivity to the suffering of the people that every section of society in Punjab is suffering.
The SAD demands an immediate high level inquiry be conducted into the gross mishandling of the pilgrims and strict follow up action against those responsible. In the meantime, pending inquiry, Health minister Balbir Singh Sidhu should be sacked as he has failed miserably on all fronts and even tried to blame others for his own criminal negligence”.
Dr Cheema said the State government should immediately make all facts public about who took the decision to house the pilgrims in unhygienic premises where even basic sanitary needs were missing. “Videos emanating from those quarantine facilities have shaken the conscience of Punjabis in the State and across the world. Everyone is talking about the criminal neglect of the State government. People are asking why the pilgrims were not quarantined in serais of the SGPC and whether they are victims of the cheap politics of the Congress party?”.
Setting the record straight, the SAD spokesman said the SAD had taken up the cause of return of the ‘sangat’ from Sri Hazur Sahib and approached the centre as well as the Maharashtra government to make this possible. “This was the least we could do for our brethren who were stranded in Sri Hazur Sahab while on pilgrimage. Other State governments and even sovereign countries have done the same for their citizens who were stuck at various places during the lockdown.
The problems started on way from Sri Hazur Sahab because proper protocol and procedures were not followed by the State government. It is because of this that some devotees contracted the virus.
The problem was compounded by lack of professional quarantine and treatment facilities. The government should admit its mistakes immediately and do justice to the pilgrims who have already suffered a lot. It should not try to play politics on this issue but resolve it in a professional manner. The SAD on its part is ready to provide all necessary help in this regard”.
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