Hindustan Times (Chandigarh)

25 MLAS test +ve ahead of Punjab assembly session

COVID-19 CM says all members asked to bring -ve report before entering Vidhan Sabha

- HT Correspond­ent

CHANDIGARH: As many as 25 of the 117 MLAS in Punjab tested positive for Covid-19 till Wednesday in the ongoing drive of the government to test all legislator­s ahead of the one-day assembly session on August 28.

Participat­ing in the video-conference of the seven non-nda ruled chief ministers with Congress national president Sonia Gandhi, chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Wednesday said that all MLAS have been asked to bring their Covid-negative report before entering the assembly to attend the session.

“If this is the state of legislator­s and ministers, one can only imagine how grave the situation is on the ground (in the state),” the chief minister said.

MINISTERS WHO TESTED POSITIVE

State rural developmen­t minister Tript Rajinder Bajwa was the first minister to test positive for coronaviru­s but he has recovered and has been attending meetings. Only last week, jails and co-operation minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa tested positive after he came in contact with an IAS officer of his department, who was suffering from Covid-19.

State revenue minister Gurpreet Kangar and industries minister Sham Sunder Arora have tested positive.

Punjab Vidhan Sabha deputy speaker Ajaib Singh Bhatti was also found positive after coming in contact with Kangar.

MLAS ON ROAD TO RECOVERY

The Congress MLAS who have tested positive so far include Pargat Singh, Madan Lal Jalalpur and Hardyal Kamboj.

Aam Aadmi Party MLAS Manjeet Singh Bilaspur and Kulwant Pandori were diagnosed with coronaviru­s on Tuesday, while rebel party MLA Najar Singh Manshahia tested positive a few days ago. Party’s Budhlada MLA Budhram was also tested positive on Wednesday.

Shiromani Akali Dal legislator­s who have tested positive over the past few days are Manpreet Ayali, Kanwarjit Rozy Barkandi, Lakhbir Lodhinanga­l, Harinderpa­l Chandumajr­a and Gurpartap Singh Wadala.

SPEAKER : FINAL TALLY TOMORROW

Punjab assembly Speaker Rana KP Singh said legislator­s getting themselves tested at the district level or at Chandigarh ahead of the session and the total number of members found positive will be available by Thursday evening.

 ??  ?? Amarinder Singh
Amarinder Singh

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