Probe ‘bias’ against ex-hazoori ragi, SC panel tells Amarinder govt

CHANDIGARH : The National Commission for Scheduled Castes on Sunday directed the Punjab government to set up a special investigating team (SIT) comprising senior civil and police officers to enquire the alleged discrimination against former hazoori ragi (traditional hymn singer) of the Golden Temple and Padma Shri awardee Bhai Nirmal Singh Khalsa before and after his death.

Former Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) MLA Inder Iqbal Singh Atwal said the commission had issued notices to state chief secretary and director general of police (DGP) following a complaint submitted to its chairman Ram Shankar Katheria. Khalsa died on Tuesday last week after he was tested positive for Covid-19.

FIVE CONTACTS SHIFTED TO PRIVATE HOSPITAL

A day after an audio clip of former Golden Temple hazoori ragi Nirmal Singh Khalsa’s last phone talk with his family surfaced alleging lack of proper medical care for Covid-19 patients at Government medical college (GMC) Amritsar, five patients associated with Khalsa were shifted to a private hospital on Sunday.

Khalsa’s 65-year-old US-returned aunt and a 58-year old fellow ragi who accompanied him to Chandigarh for a religious congregation, were tested Covid-19 positive on Friday while his associate’s wife, son and 9-year old grandson were tested positive on Saturday.

“They were getting treatment in Guru Nanak Dev hospital isolation ward. On Sunday, they have been shifted to Fortis Hospital Amritsar as they wished to get treatment from a private hospital,” said Amritsar civil surgeon Dr Prabhdeep Kaur.