Only bureaucracy working in state during ongoing corona virus pandemic: PPBM

Ludhiana, August 28: Punjab Pradesh Beopar Mandal (PPBM) leaders have stated that only bureaucracy is working in the state during the ongoing corona virus pandemic because the chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh is issuing new orders on the behest of bureaucracy on daily basis following which is putting adverse effect on both traders and trade.

Addressing the media persons here today, the PPBM state general secretary Sunil Mehra, state secretary Mohinder Aggarwal, chairman Pawan Lehar and district president Arvinder Singh Makkar added that the state seemed to be totally cut of with other states as far as trade is concerned. 

They said the state government instead of ensuring medical facilities to people has introduced odd even formula for the shopkeepers, which is proving very harmful to the interests of traders and now curfew has been on Saturdays and Sundays. They added that traders are suffering huge losses due to the ongoing situation. 

They pointed out that if liquor vends, restaurants and hotels can open on seven days a week then why not the shops. It clearly indicates that the government has opened its sources of revenue but the traders’ interest is being ignored whereas the fact is that traders pay the maximum tax. 

Further, they pointed out that the chief minister has introduced odd even formula for the shopkeepers but the bureaucracy and the police are failing it getting it implemented in a proper manner as the shopkeepers are seen greatly confused with this formula. If the traders open their shops the police personnel get these shops closed. The interior city markets are the most sufferers, they pointed out. They feared that the shopkeepers will be in a critical situation to bear electricity bills, employees and other routine expenses if the present situation continues. 

They alleged that Capt Amarinder Singh Government is trying to harass the traders by one or another manner and warned that if the situation remained continue then traders will be constrained to shut down their shops.