Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, May 7

The government decision to keep some markets shut and others open is drawing flak from various sections. Residents are fuming over the fact that while the city’s books market has been ordered to be kept closed for the past nearly a week but the liquor vends are allowed to function.

Infuriated over the decision, the residents are discussing it in their circles of friends, putting up posts on social media and passing comments terming it completely illogical.

Harbinder Singh, a resident, said he was surprised to see the entire Mai Hiran Gate market of book shops closed on Thursday. He said he was bemused to note that the books were a non-essential item as per the government orders but liquor shops were essential commodities and were allowed to be open in every corner.

Mukesh Sharma, another resident, commented that the decision only showed that the government was not bothered about the public but instead source of income mattered more to it.

City-based Puneet Pal Singh Monga too took a jibe on the situation, “While earlier the slogan was ‘Bapu ji na piyo sharab, meinu le deyo ik kitab’ (Father, please don’t consume liquor, get me a book), now it had changed to ‘Bapu ji, tusin piyo sharab, jawakan ne ki karni kitab’ (Father, you may consume liquor, kids do not need books).”

Ravinder Ravi too took to social media to write, “In India, education rarely gets priority and what else we expect from the leaders who themselves are illiterate. Here liquor is panacea for everything.”

Some netizens are also advising their friends not to venture out in the markets in these days of Covid-19. “Books and other stationery items, required for online classes, can be ordered online. Not a big issue. Let’s stop finding negativity in every single step being taken by the government in preventing the Covid spread,” stresses Jasmine Singh.