Punjab CM writes to Amit Shah for return of stranded pilgrims from Nanded

Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Tuesday wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah urging him to allow the return of the pilgrims, stranded at Gurdwara Sri Nanded Sahib to Punjab, after his Maharashtra counterpart said the centre’s permission is required.

Chandigarh:Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Tuesday urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to allow the stranded Punjab pilgrims to return home from Nanded, after his Maharashtra counterpart said the centre’s permission is required for the same.

Captain Amarinder first spoke to Maharashtra Chief Minister Udhav Thackery, who said permission would be needed from the central government for the return of the stranded pilgrims in view of the national lockdown.

The Punjab Chief Minister then wrote to Shah, urging him to allow the return of the pilgrims, stranded at Gurdwara Sri Nanded Sahib in Maharashtra amid lockdown due to COVID-19, by bus to Punjab.

In his letter, Punjab CM said he has already spoken to his Maharashtra counterpart over phone in this regard as a follow-up to his earlier letter of March 25.

The Chief Minister also apprised Shah that the stranded pilgrims, mostly belonging to farming families, were extremely anxious to return Punjab in view of the Rabi harvesting season, which had commenced in the state from April 15.

The Chief Minister assured the Union Minister that all the pilgrims would, on their arrival in Punjab, be screened and quarantined as per the Government of India’s health protocol.