Controversy arises as Punjab buses bound for Nanded had picked non-pilgrims on the way

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 9

The Punjab buses on their way to Nanded in Maharashtra in order to bring back the pilgrims had also ferried the Punjabis stuck in various parts of the state en route to Takht Hazur Sahib against their original schedule, which has led to a controversy.

These people, along with the pilgrims, then travelled back to Punjab.

In a video being circulated on social media, senior Akali leader Prem Singh Chandumajra says he had talked to NCP chief Sharad Pawar to facilitate the movement of Punjabis to the shrine on these buses that were in any case going there.

Chandumajra is heard saying that the drivers picked up the Punjabis from different locations en route to the shrine. The buses were originally supposed to reach the shrine straight with no midway stopovers.

Challenging the Shiromani Akali Dal to come clean on Chandumajra’s statement, Punjab Cooperatives Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa said the pilgrims had been blamed for no fault of theirs. “Who made the non-pilgrims join the pilgrims before proceeding to Punjab? The Akalis have some explaining to do,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Punjab government has blamed the Maharashtra administration for the increase in the number of coronavirus cases in the state owing to the pilgrims returning from Nanded.

Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu said though the state government is testing all those returning from the shrine for coronavirus, it was the Maharashtra government's duty to strictly implement the central government guidelines for containing the spread of coronavirus.