分类： bharat

The Congress and AAP MLAs, who accompanied newly appointed Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu during his day-long temple visits on Wednesday, are reportedly on the radar of the state CID.

The Congress and Aam Aadmi Party MLAs, who accompanied newly appointed Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu during his day-long temple visits on Wednesday, are reportedly on the radar of the Punjab Crime Investigation Department (CID).

The CID officials, who were keeping an eye on the gathering at Sidhu’s Amritsar residence on Wednesday morning, said that only 48 members of the legislative assembly were in attendance, as against the figure of 62 which was given earlier. This includes three former Aam Aadmi Party MLAs who recently joined the Congress.

CID officials were deployed in civil clothes around Navjot Singh Sidhu’s residence. One official introduced himself to India Today’s team and said they were “doing their duty”.

As per sources, some MLAs that accompanied Sidhu on Wednesday as well as their close aides are, at present, facing serious allegations. These members’ direct and indirect involvement in illegal activities like illicit mining and liquor trade has been found in the past, sources claimed.

Sources also stated that Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh had informed the three-member panel appointed by the Congress high command about the “rogue elements” within the party. The panel had been formed to find a solution to the discord in the Punjab unit.

One of the MLAs has been accused of being involved in illegal mining in Hoshiarpur area. The mining department in December 2020 had sent a recovery notice amounting to Rs 1.65 crore to him. This Congress MLA has reportedly been asked CM Singh for a waiver and cancellation of the illegal mining notice. The MLA has also filed an appeal against the same.

The Haryana government on Sunday issued orders to extend partial lockdown in the state by another week till July 26.

The Haryana government on Sunday issued orders to extend partial lockdown in the state by another week till July 26. Night curfew, once again, will be imposed on all days to check the transmission of Covid-19.

The night curfew will be in force from 11 pm to 5 am on all the seven days of a week across the state. Earlier on July 4, the state government had lifted the curfew on weekends.

The decision to extend curbs came despite a decline in the Covid-19 positivity rate and the number of new cases, the Haryana government said in its order.

The visuals of people throwing Covid-19 protocol to the wind in popular tourist hubs like Nainital, Mussoorie and Manali have prompted the government to give stern warnings and reminders that the virus is still looming large and any laxity in taking precautions may pave way for a third wave.

During a press conference on Friday over the Covid-19 situation in India, health ministry joint secretary played videos of people forgetting Covid-19 protocol at tourist areas of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, saying that this is nothing but an “open invitation” for the virus to come and infect.

With Covid curbs being relaxed and restrictions on movement being removed, more and more people are now heading out to tourist destinations like Nainital, Mussoorie, Manali and Shimla to beat the heat of the plains.

Concerning visuals have surfaced from these places of people overcrowding markets and tourist spots, even as the fear of a possible third wave hitting the country is very much alive.

Giving a word of caution on this, Niti Aayog member, health, Dr VK Paul, during the press conference, said: “We cannot lower our guard. A new risk is being seen at tourist spots where a gathering of crowds being seen, social distancing and mask protocol is not being followed. This is a serious cause of concern”.

“Isn’t this an open invitation for the virus to come and infect us?” health ministry joint secretary Lav Agarwal said during the same press briefing as visuals of tourists flouting norms at Mussoorie’s Kempty Falls played in the background.

“We are still dealing with the second wave of Covid-19. We need to continue the display of Covid-appropriate behaviour,” he added.