Congress decides to shut its offices in J&K amid growing Covid-19 cases

Dinesh Manhotra

Tribune News Service

Jammu, September 2

Keeping in view the worsening Covid situation in the Union Territory, Congress on Wednesday decided to close party headquarters at Jammu and Srinagar for one week.

Congress took the decision two days after its political opponents BJP shut its headquarters at Jammu and party office in Srinagar for 10 days.

“All Congress colleagues and others are hereby informed that Congress headquarters in Jammu and Srinagar are hereby closed for all kinds of routine activities for a period of one week from today in view of worsening covid-19 situation,” Ravinder Sharma, chief spokesman of the J&K Congress, stated in a brief handout.

Although Congress leadership has already restricted its activities due to spike in the cases, the party has decided to close its offices at both the winter and summer capitals as a precautionary measure.

During the last one week, Jammu has witnessed a surge in the coronavirus cases. The fatalities due to the contagion has also increased.

The BJP office was shut-down on Saturday for 10 days after some senior leaders tested positive for the virus.

On Tuesday, former ministers Sunil Sharma from Kishwar and Shakti Raj Parihar from Doda, and vice-president Dr Narinder Singh tested positive for novel coronavirus.

Earlier, BJP Member of Parliament Jugal Kishore, general secretary (organisation) Ashok Koul, general secretary Vibodh Gupta and Mahila Morcha president Sanjita Dogra  were found infected with the virus.

J&K president Ravinder Raina has recovered from infection.