In an apparent zeal to inspect the ongoing wheat procurement process and score brownie points, Punjab Minister and lawmakers on Thursday virtually ended up violating the lockdown and social distancing norms.
Throwing to winds the social distancing norms, 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.
As per the curfew restrictions, the State Government has prohibited the gathering of more than 20 people at one place. Notably, Punjab Police has also been registering cases against those who are violating the ban order regarding restrictions on gathering.
The violation of orders and social distancing rule by those in power comes at a time when the state government has made special arrangements across 3000 grain markets to maintain safe distance to check the spread of deadly virus.
Ashu, the minister in-charge, take stock of the ongoing process at state’s biggest grain market at Khanna. And in the process, he and many others neglected the social distancing. Besides the dignitaries, Ashu’s gunmen also accompanied him.
Even though they all have been seen wearing face masks, they were standing close to each other, posing for the shutterbugs.
In an irony of sorts, Ashu, while talking with the media later on, said that the social distancing norms are being enforced in the mandis in accordance with which box measuring 30 feet x 30 feet have been marked at two meters distance.
Later, Ashu also visited Mullanpur grain market along with Congress’ Ludhiana MP Ravneet Singh Bittu, senior Congress leader Capt Sandeep Singh Sandhu, and several others — flouting social distancing norms.
In another similar incident, Congress MLA from Shutrana Nirmal Singh, review the arrangement at Patran anaj mandi along with several others.
The senior government officials have expressed surprise over the incident and described it as “sad”. But it is still unclear whether the matter has been brought to the Chief Minister’s notice.