At Kejriwav’s rally, AAP leaders mock Covid guidelines, attendees say: ‘More worried about our livelihoods than virus’

COVID NORMS have been overtly flouted on the ‘Kisan Maha Sammelan’ addressed by AAP nationwide convenor and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal in Baghapurana of Moga Sunday at the same time as instances continued to rise within the state. Thousands of attendees on the rally sat with out sporting masks nor practising social distancing.
Moga well being division officers stated that at the same time as 4 groups of well being staff have been deployed on the venue for fast antigen testing and RT-PCR pattern assortment of the individuals who have been coming to attend the rally, not a single check could possibly be carried out as a result of ‘chaos’ that prevailed on the venue.
For the previous 4 days, Punjab has been including greater than 2,000 instances every day to its tally. It stands subsequent solely to Maharashtra within the phrases of highest every day deaths because of Covid.
While AAP staff have been seen distributing customised ‘AAP’ masks and sanitisers on the entrance factors of the venue, only a few sitting within the pandal have been seen sporting them. There was no social distancing as hundreds sat shut collectively to hearken to Kejriwal’s speech.
Meanwhile, AAP leaders together with MP Bhagwant Mann brazenly mocked the “Corona fear” from the of their speeches and stated that coronavirus was no motive to postpone or cancel their rally.
People gathered at Arvind Kejriwal’s rally in Moga, Punjab on Sunday. (Express Photo by Harmeet Sodhi)
The Moga administration had granted AAP permission to carry the rally with ‘conditions’ that the get together needed to comply with in view of Covid. The letter stated that retaining in view rising Covid instances in Punjab, the organizers have to make sure:
– Only these VIPs and VVIPs must be allowed to take a seat on stage who check unfavorable in previous 48 hours.– All the leaders and staff who will take part within the rally should put on masks and comply with social distancing.– The venue might be sanitized utilizing sodium hypochlorite.– Sanitisers might be made obtainable on the entry level and close to the stage on the venue– All the rules issued by Centre, Punjab for Covid administration might be adopted.
“What is Covid? Where is it? Has anyone seen it? There is nothing like Covid. It is all hype created by the governments,” stated a labourer from Faridkot stated whereas chatting with The Indian Express, including that Kejriwal was his “favourite” chief and on no account may he have missed his rally.
“Even if there is Covid, it is less dangerous than Akali Dal and Congress. These two parties have to go now. We came here to listen tp what Kejriwal had to say and what hope he can give us for our better future and for Punjab,” stated a person from Bajakhana of Faridkot, who stated he works as a driver.
Arvind Kejriwal addressing the group on the Kisan Mahasamelan rally in Moga on Sunday. (Express Photo by Gurmeet Singh)
“There is no Covid. It is okay not to wear masks…We came here to listen to Kejriwal,” stated Gurvir Singh, a small farmer from Jalalabad.Mann Singh, a mason who got here from Faridkot, stated, “We do not fear Covid. One has to die one day and we will die the day it has to happen. We came to listen to Kejriwal.” Jagvir Singh, a every day wager from Nabha stated, “Where is Covid in Bengal where BJP is holding massive rallies daily?”
“Politicians are making fools of people in the name of Covid. Daily wagers and laborers who work hard and earn daily are more worried about their livelihoods than Covid. We came here because we are fed up of both Congress and Akali Dal. Maybe Kejriwal can offer us some hope,” stated Jasvir, a driver.
AAP Jaitu MLA Master Baldev, throughout his speech, requested the crowds to clap for ‘Sukbir Singh Badal testing positive for Covid’. “Vadiya hoya Sukhbir Covid constructive aaya, taadi maaro,’ he stated from the stage.
Celebrity singer turned AAP chief Anmol Gagan Mann, whereas conducting the stage, stated media was ‘third’ pillar of democracy.
Before the arrival of AAP management, crowds have been entertained with the songs resembling, ‘Khichh lai jatta khichh taiyyari, pecha pai gaya Centre naal’ and ‘Nai aauni, nai aauni, hun teri sarkaar Captaina nahi aauni..’
MP Bhagwant Mann at the Kisan Mahasamelan of AAP at Baghapurana in Moga on Sunday. (Express Photo by Gurmeet Singh)
While earlier AAP leaders resembling Bhagwant Mann, Meet Hayer, Jarnail Singh, Kultar Sandhwan, Harpal Singh Cheema and so forth have been seeing sitting on stage with out sporting masks, all of them wore the masks later as Arvind Kejriwal arrived.-Even because it was a rally for farmers, the pandal was dominated by blue-white AAP flags with Kejriwal’s pictures. Hardly any farm union flag was seen.
The fundamental stage had pictures of solely three AAP leaders- Kejriwal, Bhagwant Mann & Harpal Cheema.
AAP leaders mock Covid from stage
AAP leaders together with MP Bhagwant Mann, Barnala MLA Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer and Punjab affairs co-incharge Jarnail Singh, additionally mocked the coronavirus from stage of their speeches and stated that it was no motive to postpone or cancel the rally.
Targeting Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh, AAP leaders stated that there was no Covid for CM’s granddaughter’s marriage ceremony but it surely turns into an enormous fear if Kejriwal has to carry a rally. Recently, movies of Captain Amarinder and his household went viral on social media wherein he could possibly be seen attending the marriage of his granddaughter (his son Raninder Singh’s daughter) with out sporting masks.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and MP Bhagwant Mann with AAP MLAs observe two minutes silence for the who farmers died throughout Kisan andolan. (Express Photo by Gurmeet Singh)
“Captain di poti de vyaah naal covid ni hunda… Saade velley hunda Covid. Saade Covid di chinta na karo.. (Covid doesn’t happen when Captain’s granddaughter gets married, it happens only when we organise something. These people need not worry about us getting Covid),” stated AAP MLA Meet Hayer on stage.
“Corona to nahi Kejriwal ton darr lagda hai (Congress does not fear corona but Kejriwal). Congress can do rallies in West Bengal then there is no Corona but it is there when Kejriwal does,” stated AAP Punjab affairs co-incharge Jarnail Singh.
MP Bhagwant Mann stated from stage that SAD and Congress can be having ‘sleepless nights’ for the approaching one yr earlier than polls.
“Saanu kehenda corona hai, eh rally na karo. Aap eh Bengal vi election lad rahe, Bengal vi lad rahe. Captain Amarinder ne apni poti da vyah kita, dus function kar le oh do taan corona aaunda ni, saadi vaari corona aa gaya… Ehna ne hathkandey vartey.. (They asked us not to hold today’s rally citing Covid. But they themselves are fighting Bengal and Tamil Nadu polls also. Captain Amarinder organized ten functions for his granddaughter’s wedding and then there was no Covid but it appears when we do anything. They tried everything to stop this rally),” stated Mann.
Police say
Moga SSP Harmanbir Singh Gill stated police can take motion in opposition to those that violated Covid norms in the event that they get a written request from administration. “Since they granted permission for the rally, it was their duty to check the violations. We will register case against those who did not wear masks etc if administration gives the same to us in writing,” stated SSP.

As per the most recent Covid pointers that have been issued by Punjab extra chief secretary (house) on March 20 and enforced from March 21: “All political parties and their leaders are requested to keep their gathering within the prescribed numbers i.e. 50 per cent of capacity subject to maximum of 100 in closed and 200 in open spaces.”