After announcing to impose a complete ban on sale and bursting of firecrackers in the state, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Sunday allowed two hours relaxations for the people of the state to burst firecrackers on Diwali

“The State Government has decided to permit people to sell and burst firecrackers for only two hours on Diwali in the state,” the Chief Minister said while interacting with the media persons in Daulatapur village of Fatehabad.

The Chief Minister had on Friday announced to impose a complete ban on firecrackers to prevent the risk of spread of Covid-19 due to polluted atmosphere created by bursting of crackers. Several traders associations had condemned the decision stating that this would lead to huge loss to several shopkeepers.

Speaking on the issue, Manohar Lal on Sunday said that citizens can only burst crackers for two hours on Diwali in the state. It has been observed that there has been a spike in Coronavirus infected patients due to air pollution. In order to reduce pollution and to prevent the spread of Coronavirus infection, selling and bursting crackers has been prohibited.

This decision has been taken in view of the rising levels of pollution while adhering to the guidelines issued by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to decrease air pollution, he said.

Several states including Delhi, Rajasthan, Karnataka and the union territory of Chandigarh have also announced ban and sale of firecrackers.

PAROLE TO DERA CHIEDF AS PER LAW, SAYS CM

Amid reports that Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, currently serving sentences in rape and murder cases in Rohtak’s Sunaria jail, was “secretly” granted parole last month, the Chief Minster said that according to the Jail Manual, the local Jail Administration has the authority of giving parole from sunrise to sunset.  The security-related matters are taken up by the District Administration and parole has been given in accordance to the rules, he said while responding to the query regarding Dera chief getting parole.

The State Government on October 24 had granted a day’s parole to controversial Dera Sacha Sauda head, who is serving a 20-year jail sentence for raping two of his disciples and has been denied bail several times by the courts.  Ram Rahim was reportedly granted parole on his wife Harjit Kaur’s plea that his mother Naseeb Kaur, 85, suffering from a heart disease was seriously ill. The Dera chief met his mother, who is hospitalised in Gurugram.

ONLY MARGINAL INCREASE IN FEE FOR MBBS

While responding to a question regarding the increase in fee of MBBS course the Chief Minister said that it has been marginally increased.  There had been no increase in the fee for several years. As compared to other states, the medical fee is still very minimal in Haryana, he said.

On the question pertaining to submitting bonds worth ten lakh, the Chief Minister said that it has been included so that after pursuing MBBS, students can work in the state and provide their services to the people of the state. He said that the bonds are being submitted to increase the inclination of students towards working in the state. On the issue of controversy surrounding three farm laws, Manohar Lal said that the farmer agitation in the state is ineffective. All three farm laws are in favour of the farmers.

The Congress is trying to mislead the farmers and the real face of the Congress party was revealed in the Vidhan Sabha Session.

The people of the state witnessed the dirty politics of the Congress party as the latter did not participate in the discussion during the Vidhan Sabha Session. In a democratic system, it is necessary to have discussion which is followed by voting, he added.

In reply to another question, Chief Minister Manohar Lal said that the Bihar results and exit poll have no significance on the political scenario of Haryana.

On the incident of death due to poisonous liquor in Sonipat, the Chief Minister said that such incidents are inappropriate.

Taking cognisance of this, the State Government has directed to register an FIR.  Relief aid has also been announced by the Government to the families of the deceased. Strict action will be taken against those found guilty of selling illicit liquor, he added.