Notwithstanding Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh’s Statewide campaign of ‘Mission Fateh’ to combat the spread of coronavirus pandemic in the State, his Ministers are throwing social distancing norms to the winds.
Punjab Medical Education Minister OP Soni on Wednesday inaugurated a virus research lab in Patiala, violating the social distancing rules to check the spread of the deadly contagion.
The incident came a day after another Cabinet Minister Sunder Sham Arora had attended the coronation ceremony of the chairman of Hoshiarpur district market committee in Hoshiarpur. The state’s Industries and Commerce Minister, Arora, was seen posing for the shutterbugs along with the party MLAs, workers, and supporters while flouting the social distancing rules.
The violation of orders and social distancing norms by those in power comes at a time when the State Government has launched its much-hyped ‘Mission Fateh’, and promoting the messages of wearing masks, maintaining social distance, and other safety measures to check the spread of deadly contagion.
In fact, as per the strict instructions by the Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, the state police chief had asked the field officers to enforce strict social distancing not just at shops, offices, banks and liquor outlets (thekas), but also in vehicles (car, scooters or motorbikes), as well as public or private transport buses.
Moreover, the State Government has only recently imposed Rs 2,000 penalty for those violating the social distancing rules.
It has also been learnt that the respective District Administrations of Hoshiarpur and Patiala are also yet to initiate any action in both the incidents as of now.
A senior government official, requesting anonymity, told The Pioneer that incidents like these make things difficult for the officers. “People look up to politicians, and leaders, and when incidents like this happen, it becomes difficult to ask people not to do what the leaders ‘in power’ are doing,” said the official.
One of the state’s Deputy Commissioner, “strictly off the record”, maintained that the leaders and everyone are well aware of the rules, and they are expected to conduct themselves. “A low level officer could have asked the Minister and others to maintain distance, but that is not possible not a system like ours,” said the Deputy Commissioner adding that when highlighted, the Chief Minister is the right person to take a call.
Another Deputy Commissioner maintained, “Sometimes it becomes an issue due to public getting too close for photo-op and etc....But majorly, I have seen they follow the mask rule, and the use of sanitizers.”
WHAT IS THE INCIDENT?
Minister OP Soni was seen surrounded by doctors, police personnel, college staff, and media camerapersons as he inaugurated a Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratories in Patiala city on Wednesday.
People could be seen standing shoulder-to-shoulder as the Minister addressed them during the event. Although, those attending the event wore masks, the call for “safe” six-foot distance was totally ignored.
What is more! The rules were flouted in the presence of senior officers, including the Deputy Commissioner, Civil Surgeon, and SSP at Government Medical College, Patiala.
This is not for the first time. Earlier also, the social distancing norms went for a toss when the state’s Food and Civil Supplies Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu, accompanied by Congress’ Fatehgarh Sahib MP Amar Singh, and Khanna MLA Gurkirat Singh Kotli, along with more than two dozens men visited Khanna grain market not only to inspect the ongoing procurement process, but also to get themselves clicked in April.