Gathering of devotees on Baisakhi not appropriate in times of coronavirus, says Sukhbir Badal

Jupinderjit Singh 
Tribune News Service 
Chandigarh, March 31

Shiromani Akali Dal President Sukhbir Singh Badal said on Tuesday that a gathering of devotees on Baisakhi may not be appropriate at a time when the country was trying to contain the spread of coronavirus.

In a video-conference with eight journalists, Sukhbir accused the state government of discriminating on political basis with people in the relief distribution and other help in the ongoing crisis.

“We are giving full co-operation with the government as this is no time to play politics and indulge in critical statements against the government but we have received reports from or workers that the Congress leaders were reaching out to their workers first. This is condemnable.” Sukhbir said.

In response to a query by The Tribune on whether Baisakhi celebrations will be held as already similar gatherings on HOLA Mohalla has been criticised, Sukhbir said he believed now was the time to stay indoors and restrain from any such activity.

 “I hope the Akal Takh Jathedar and religious heads are discussing the issue as they are the proper authority on this,” he said.

Baisakhi festival marks beginning of the traditional new year in Punjab. It also heralds the harvesting of wheat crop. Devotees throng gurdwaras for a holy dip and to seek blessings for the new year and offer thanks giving for the crop. This kind of religious gathering is a high risk for spread of virus.  Reports said a large number of devotees at a religious gathering at Nizamuddin had contracted the coronovirus.

 He also asked the government to stop tarnishing the image of NRIs who are being accused of spread the virus.

“Punjab is their home. They got virus from somewhere and are the victims. The virus is all over the world. Anyone could have got. Some of those who are said to be NRIs were tourists who had visited some country.”

Sukhbir also took on the CM capt Amarinder Singh for not checking confusion and chaos in the state, “The chief minister, like his counterparts in other parts of the country, should speak to the public every day and brief about factual cases and efforts taken by the government”.

 “Even the President of USA, is briefing the nation every day,” he said with a chuckle.

He also called upon the chief minister to direct deputy commissioners to check the flow of migrant labourers to their homes: “This labour is the backbone of our agriculture and industry. The government should provide them food and shelter so that they are available for harvesting season”.

He also advised the chief minister to rope in private hospitals in the fight against coronavirus and subsidise the cost of testing.