Mayor’s pics without mask in public create flutter on social media

Ludhiana: While city mayor Balkar Sandhu may have been avoiding social interactions in the last couple of days, but his reluctance to wear a mask at public places in the past few days has invited sarcastic remarks from local residents and his political opponents.
There have been several occasions where he has been spotted many times not covering his face with either some cloth or mask.
On July 11, in view of water accumulation on roads cabinet minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu had taken a round of the city. During that round, pictures of which were sent by district public relation office, the mayor was not wearing a mask even as the cabinet minister was seen wearing one.
After the cabinet minister’s Facebook page was uploaded with pictures, some of the netizens reacted to it. Gaurav Sharma, a local resident, responded to the images by writing “Well done Ashu G. Lekin jaise aapne mask pehna hai waise apne sathiyon ko bhi pehnwa dijiye. Spl. mayor saab (well done Ashu ji. The way you are wearing masks, get your friends to wear the same, especially the mayor).”
Another netizen Sonu Kapoor wrote, ‘Good job. But why our mayor is not wearing a mask.”
The opposition parties are also criticising the mayor for not wearing mask in those pictures. “Being the first citizen and as a state government representative if they are not following the orders, how can they implement it for others. Even the chief minister was not wearing the same during a recent FB session. They impose a challan of Rs 500 on people and themselves are not serious towards the people of the state. As a leader one has to follow the norms and it shouldn’t be done for just the sake of show,” said Ranjit Singh Dhillon, district president of Shiromani Akali Dal (urban).
Even AAP supporters are criticising the mayor on the issue. “They are rule setters and are not sending a good message to people as rule makers are becoming breakers. The mayor should set a good example rather than a bad one. They have collected lakhs of rupees from challans and registered FIRs for those violating the norms related to Covid-19, but are not following those rules themselves,” said Ahbab Grewal, general secretary of AAP.
Meanwhile, the FB page of the mayor shows that on many occasions he is not seen covering his mouth and nose with mask or cloth in public. On July 7, during a meeting with Ludhiana Goods Transport Association regarding the NHAI, though the mayor has a cloth piece around his neck, his mouth and face is not covered. On June 7 also, he is not using a mask or cloth to cover his mouth and nose.
Though there have been a few instances prior to his appearances without masks, where he was seen wearing one. Meanwhile, repeated attempts to contact the mayor were made, but in vain.