Covid: Mohali gym, fitness centre owners protest

Mohali, January 20

Owners, trainers and other staff members of Mohali gym and fitness centres, under the banner of the Greater Punjab Gym Association, blocked a road near Gurdwara Singh Shaheedan, Sohana, against the administration’s order to close the facilities in view of a spurt in Covid cases.

The protesters said: “When shopping malls, restaurants, hotels and bars can be allowed to open, then why not gyms. Gym administrators take good care of health and adhere to Covid-appropriate behaviour in all respects”.

They said due to such administrative decisions, the gym and fitness industry had been completely destroyed and the government was doing nothing to help it. It had now become difficult for gym and fitness centre owners to run their households and they had no choice but to take to the streets against the administration and the government.

MLA Balbir Singh Sidhu also reached the spot and spoke to the Deputy Commissioner over phone to resolve the issue. Sidhu said he was with the gym management in every possible way and he understood that the situation remained serious for gym owners due to the closure of the facilities.

He said though the third wave of the Covid was not so fatal, the Deputy Commissioner issued these orders on the basis of the instructions issued by the Home Secretary, Punjab. The MLA said he was also going to talk to the Home Secretary in this regard.

Tehsildar Puneet Kumar also reached the spot in the evening and received a memorandum from the protesters. He assured the protesters that he would arrange a meeting of the five-member committee of the organisation with the Deputy Commissioner on January 21. The protesters said they had decided to lift the dharna after getting assurance from the tehsildar. If their issue was not resolved tomorrow, they would again hold a protest.

MLA reaches spot, speaks to DC

MLA Balbir Singh Sidhu also reached the spot and spoke to the Deputy Commissioner over phone to resolve the issue. Sidhu said he was with the gym management in every possible way and he understood that the situation remained serious for gym owners due to the closure of the facilities.