The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab on Friday held an hour-long state-wide protest against the Captain Amarinder Singh government to reiterate its demand for immediate release of financial aid of Rs 50 lakh to the bereaved family of PRTC driver Manjit Singh, who died en route while on official duty to ferry the pilgrims stranded at Sri Hazur Sahib amid national lockdowm.AAP’s state unit President and parliamentarian Bhagwant Mann informed media person through a video conference that all party legislators, senior district, block-level leadership of the party and thousands of volunteers held a silent protest outside their homes, in support of their demand, sporting black bands and holding play cards in bearing the slogan “Main Bhi Manjit Singh Haan” to wake up the deaf Captain government to redeeming its pledge to give financial aid of Rs 50 lakh to the bereaved family immediately. The AAP leader added that the announcement of financial aid of Rs 10 lakh made by the government was a cruel joke with thousands of the frontline corona warriors, including doctors, nurses, sanitation staff, police personnel and other essential services staff in the state.The AAP MP accused the Capt Amarinder Singh government of backtracking on the promise of granting a financial aid of Rs 50 lakh to those brave hearts, who were fighting from the front row, away from their families and at their own peril. He added that the government had played a cruel joke by undermining the role of those fighting a fierce battle against Covid-19.
Mann, through the video conferencing, informed that the party state leadership had taken a decision to holding a silent state-wide protest on Thursday, coinciding with the International Labour Day (May 1) in a unique way by sitting put at their homes, strictly adhering to the essential social-distancing norm and other safety protocols to press their demand for immediate release of financial aid to the family of the deceased driver.Answering a media query, Mann said that the Captain government should immediately announce the promised financial aid of Rs 50 lakh to the family of Manjit Singh, who died in harness, taking a cue from the Arvind Kejriwal government in Delhi which had already announced a financial cover of Rs 1 crore to those who were fighting the formidable battle against the deadly pandemic.Others who participated in the state-wide protest by staying put outside their homes in favour of corona warrior Manjit Singh on the World Labor Day included besides, Bhagwant Mann and Leader of Opposition Harpal Singh Cheema, who registered their protest in Sangrur, Principal Budh Ram in Budhlada, Prof. Baljinder Kaur in Talwandi Sabo, Kultar Singh Sandhwan in Kotkapura, Aman Arora in Sunam, Sarabjit Kaur Manuke in Jagraon, Jai Krishan Singh Rouri in Garhshankar, Rupinder Kaur Ruby in Bathinda, Kulwant Singh Pandori in Mahil Kalan, Manjit Singh Bilaspur in Nihal Singh Wala, Master Baldev Singh in Jaito (all MLAs) and former MP Prof. Sadhu Singh sat outside his house in Faridkot.