On August 28, Punjab observed the one-day session of the Vidhan Sabha, where seven bills were unanimously passed by the legislative members. The assembly session started at 11 am keeping Covid protocols in mind. All the members were given entry to the Vidhan Sabha after checking their mandatory Covid-19 test reports.
However, the test reports have now created the ruckus among the government as two MLAs namely Kulbir Singh Zira and Nirmal Singh Shutrana, who joined the session were found corona-positive in the RT-PCR testing.
Following the test reports, Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Friday had quarantined himself for seven days after he came in close contact with MLA Kulbir Singh Zira. The information was shared via a tweet by Raveen Thukral, the media adviser to the CM.
According to the reports, Kulbir Singh Zira got himself tested for the coronavirus on August 25 ahead of the Vidhan Sabha session in which he was found negative. On the day of Assembly session, Zira receives a call, from one of the private labs of Ferozepur where he gave his sample for test, informing him he is positive to the infection.
However, during the session, Shuttrana did not interact much with other fellow members in the house and had left the session within 15 minutes of the start of the session. On the other hand, Zira was spotted meeting a lot of MLAs, he even met the Chief Minister.
Taking note of the matter, the speaker Rana KP said his primary contacts would be traced and tested for the infection.
Also Read: Punjab Vidhan Sabha Passes seven bills during specially convened one day session
The positive-members in the session have gripped the other 55 MLAs and ministers, besides the staff of Vidhan Sabha in panic and fear.
Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu said the authorities are tracing all those who had interacted with these two MLAs, both inside and outside the house.
Earlier this week, MLA Pargat Singh from Jalandhar was found covid-positive ahead of the Vidhan Sabha session despite not showing any symptoms for the infection. Later, MLA Pargat Singh decided to undergo another test to clear the air and he was found negative.
This, however, raises questions on the corona-testing kits, which displays the faulty results for each person undergoing the test.
So far, Punjab's 32 legislators have fallen prey to this contagious disease.