Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Friday warned rumour-mongers of action against spreading fake news regarding the coronavirus outbreak.
“I request Punjabis not to share unsubstantiated news and information as it may create unnecessary panic. The following content that claims @PunjabGovtIndia is shutting down internet services is fake & action will be taken against anyone involved in spreading misleading information,” Capt Amarinder tweeted on Friday morning to scotch the misinformation campaign.
In his tweet, the Chief Minister also put out an image of the fake post regarding the false announcement that the Punjab Government was suspending internet services in the State till March 31 in view of the spread of coronavirus.
SUKHBIR DIRECTS PARTY WORKERS TO SPECIALLY HELP NRIs CURRENTLY VISITING PUNJAB
SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Friday announced a number of steps to help NRIs or other Punjabis trapped abroad and requiring assistance in the wake of the Corona pandemic.
Sukhbir asked the Central Government to set up special cells with helpline numbers devoted to Punjabi NRIs in all Indian missions abroad, especially in countries like Canada, the USA, the UK, Italy, Spain, France, Germany and the Middle East where Punjabis, especially the Sikhs reside in significantly large numbers.
SAD chief has specially requested the Prime Minister Narender Modi and the Minister of External Affairs Subramayam Jaishankar to step up efforts to ensure that the NRIs, especially Punjabis, feel that their government and the country of their origin is standing by them fully in this hour of need.
Sukhbir requested the Centre to direct all Indian missions abroad to contact political and community leaders as well as others, including the NGOs and Voluntary Aid Organisations, and facilitate timely assistance to the people of Indian origin through the governments of host countries.At the same time, he also directed the party headquarter in Chandigarh to remain vigilante and to keep him informed round the clock about any intervention required at his level to extend any help of any kind to any Punjabi overseas.
“We must remain and ready for prompt response to any eventuality through coordination with the Government of India and also, through them, to work through Indian missions abroad,” he said.
SAD president also asked the party leaders and workers to immediately spring into action and to offer whatever assistance is needed by the visiting NRI Punjabis. “Our leaders and workers must remain in touch with the families of all NRIs, especially those currently visiting Punjab. Our leaders and workers must ensure that no NRI is put through any inconvenience in the ongoing atmosphere where needless panic can sometimes lead to avoidable problems. The SAD leaders and workers will remain available for help whenever any NRI needs it,” he said.
KALIA DEMANDS WAIVING OFF PENDING BILLS TILL SITUATION NORMALISES
Punjab BJP’s former president and former Minister Manoranjan Kalia on Friday demanded waiving off the payment of all pending bills generated by the State Government till the normalization of the situation.
Kalia underlined that preventive measures, taken by Congress Government in Punjab, will have adverse impact upon the individual income of every person in the State, and have appealed the Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh to waive off the payment of all pending bills.
At the same time, Kalia appreciated the steps taken by State Government regarding suspending public transport services, including buses, tempos and rickshaws), postponing Board examinations and restricting the public gathering to less than 20 in whole of Punjab as a preventive measure of stemming the spread of corona virus.