NGOs, employees come in support of Ludhiana MC Secy who was leading drive against poly bags

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, August 9

To extend their support to MC Secretary Jasdev Singh Sekhon, who has been transferred to Abohar amid Municipal Corporation’s drive against plastic carry bags, a large number of city residents, including social activists, members of various NGOs, and Municipal Employees Sangharsh Committee members gathered near the Mayor’s Camp Office, Nehru Rose Garden, here.

Opposing the transfer order of Sekhon, they sought from the government to disclose the reason behind the decision. They wanted to meet Mayor Balkar Singh Sandhu regarding the transfer order but he was unavailable.

Also read: 1,100-kg plastic bags seized by Ludhiana MC staff

The MC Secretary was leading the team that had recovered 1,200 kg of plastic carry bags during raids in the city recently. Soon after the action, the MC had received an order regarding the transfer of Sekhon from the MC, Ludhiana, to Abohar.

Gursahib Singh from Sikhs for Sikhs, an organisation, said the officer’s appreciable work during the pandemic could not be ignored.

“Everyone knows how he ran the sanitisation drive in the city. Moreover, Sekhon was ensuring the cremation of persons who died of Covid-19. Even when families of some persons who died of the virus failed to come forward, Sekhon ensured their last rites too.

“Now, Sekhon was leading the team against the banned plastic carry bags when the government issued orders to transfer him from the city. The city needs such officers. We want the government authorities must disclose the reason behind his transfer, otherwise we will oppose the transfer order,” he said.

Another NGO representative said: “We have gathered here in support of Sekhon. We want to know the reason behind his transfer. We wanted to meet the Mayor but he was unavailable.”

Municipal Employees Sangharsh Committee chairman Ashwani Sahota said they had to meet Mayor Balkar Singh Sandhu today but he was out of the city. He said they would meet him tomorrow regarding the transfer of the MC official.