Sukhbir to lead dharna at Balbir Sidhu’s house
CHANDIGARH: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Saturday announced to hold a dharna in front of the residence of health minister Balbir Singh Sidhu at Mohali on June 7 to demand his immediate dismissal as well a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the sale of Covid vaccines to private hospitals.
According to a party release, Sukhbir will lead the two-hour dharna, to be attended by senior leadership of the party including MLAS, former legislators and district presidents.
Party spokesman Daljit Singh Cheema said though the Congress government admitted that it had wrongfully sold 80,000 vaccine doses received from the Centre to private hospitals at a premium, it had not taken any action against those responsible for the corrupt and inhuman act. “No action has been initiated against health minister Balbir Sidhu who is directly responsible for diverting vaccine doses to private facilities, which charged Rs 1,560 to Rs 2,000 per dose from the people. It is clear that chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh is shielding a corrupt minister,” said Cheema.
Youth Akali Dal (YAD) president Parambans Singh Romana said they will file a criminal complaint against Balbir Sidhu for selling 80,000 vaccine doses to private facilities.
No action has been initiated against Sidhu who is directly responsible for diverting vaccine doses to private facilities. DALJIT SINGH CHEEMA, SAD spokesman
BJP seeks health minister’s resignation LUDHIANA: Amid row over supply of Covid vaccine to private hospitals at a premium, the BJP on Saturday sought resignation of health minister Balbir Singh Sidhu on moral grounds, saying that the state government is filling its coffers at the cost of human lives.
Addressing a press conference in Ludhiana, Punjab BJP chief spokesperson Anil Sarin said: “While people are not getting free jabs at government facilities, private hospitals are charging hefty amounts for a single dose.”
He also slammed the state government for the alleged mismanagement and improper use of 809 ventilators sent by the Union government, due to which the case fatality rate is highest in Punjab.
Who’s running health dept: Ex-minister Kalia JALANDHAR: BJP leader and former minister Manoranjan Kalia said that Congress government’s decision to withdraw the sold vaccine doses from private hospitals will not settle the issue.
Kalia questioned if vaccine procurement done by the officials do not belong to the health department as per Balbir Sidhu, who ordered Vikas Garg, the nodal officer, to procure the same at Rs 400 per dose and to sell to private hospitals at Rs 1,060. “If the health minister has not been taken into confidence for the purchase and sale of vaccine doses, who is running the health department?” he said.