No need to panic, have adequate supply of essential goods: CM

Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini, in a high-level review meeting held via video-conferencing with the Deputy Commissioners, Commissioners of Police, Superintendents of Police and Administrative Secretaries held on Saturday, has issued directions to ensure robust emergency management systems and prevent panic during critical situations.

He assured people of the state that there was no need to panic as all essential commodities, including food, medicine, fuel and daily necessities, were available in sufficient quantities across the state. He emphasised that the government is closely monitoring the situation and has taken all necessary steps to ensure uninterrupted availability.

The Chief Minister urged citizens to stay calm, avoid hoarding and rely only on verified information, adding that action would be taken against those spreading rumours or creating artificial shortages.

He stressed that misinformation often leads to panic-buying and inflates prices of essential food items. Authorities must ensure a calm atmosphere and take strict action against rumour-mongering.

The Chief Minister directed the officers concerned to develop a dedicated portal that would enable citizens to voluntarily offer their services to the government in this crucial time.

He said that through this platform, individuals could come forward to contribute in various roles, such as drivers, doctors or any other capacity, based on their skills and expertise.

The Chief Minister directed that social media platforms should be closely monitored. He said that to curb the spread of misinformation, all Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police should convene meetings with local reporters and individuals running social media news channels and request them not to circulate any unverified or fake news.

Saini said that the district administration must authenticate all news before public dissemination. Misleading or panic-inducing news must be dealt with firmly. He urged the citizens to remain calm and not be swayed by rumours or misleading information being spread on social media regarding the current situation.