At Tikri, farmers avoid mass testing

Ravinder Saini

Tribune News Service

Jhajjar, May 1

A day after a 25-year-old woman died of Covid at Tikri border, the protesting farmers today refused to get mass testing done. Union leaders said activists had been told to get themselves tested only if they showed symptoms.

They, however, have no data to show how many of them have got Covid test done.

The district authorities have several times issued appeals in this regard, but the farmers remained reluctant. Sources say most of them do not wear masks or maintain social distance.

The woman — Moumita Basu of West Bengal – had joined the dharna on April 11. Five days later, she was admitted to a hospital in Bahadurgarh. She died after testing positive for Covid on Friday.

Terming it an isolated case, Pargat Singh, a BKU (Rajewal) leader, said: “Since all are healthy and participating in the movement, they have not opted for a test. Our doctors are here to treat the farmers who develop health issues.”