At a time when Punjab is under mini-lockdown owing to rising covid cases and the state government has been appealing to people to follow Covid-appropriate behaviour, a Punjab minister was seen openly violating the guidelines by participating in a private function where over 50 attendants were present.
As per Punjab Government’s current covid guidelines, there is a complete ban on political gatherings, and no more than 10 persons are allowed to participate in social gatherings. But the question arises here is whether the ‘covid norms’ are just for the common public? Are elected representatives, who seem to be the brand ambassadors of the programme, barred from following any of its directives?
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When the same question was asked to Forest Minister Punjab Sadhu Dharmsot, he replied in Punjabi, “Khushi da mauka ve, 10 hi bnde jada ne” (It’s an occasion to celebrate, only 10 people are more than covid limit), he claimed.
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Meanwhile, this is not the first time the Punjab MLAs, Ministers or other VIPs have violated the covid norms. Earlier, a video of Congress Phagwara MLA Balwinder Singh Dhaliwal went viral on the social media wherein he was seen dancing sans a facemask at a wedding.
Besides, on several other occasions and political events which include distributing ration, face masks etc, the Ministers are hardly seen paying any heed to covid norms.
On one hand the Punjab Police is actively issuing challans to common people for not wearing masks or maintaining social distancing, and on other hand, these Ministers and VIPs are violating norms with impunity.