Srinagar, Mar 06 (KNS): Chairman J&K RTI Movement Dr. Shaikh Ghulam Rasool Friday asked the Government to put on hold the Khelo India Winter Games-2020 to be conducted at ski-resort Gulmarg, in wake of rising Coronavirus cases in India.
Rasool said having the mega sports event was a “highly irresponsible” behavior of the authorities amid the Coronavirus outbreak, when the whole world was on high alert and putting precautionary measures in place, including cancelling all small and big events to contain the spread of the epidemics.
The five-day Khelo India Winter Games-2020 in Gulmarg Kashmir will start from Saturday. “The sports event has created hysteria among the masses, and if this gathering added to the number of infected, Government should completely be held responsible,” he said.
Advocate Irfan Hafiz of J&K RTI Movement says, “The event puts the lives of 1000s of people travelling and the community of Kashmir in great risk and danger. So far, Government of J&K has not made any plans to reschedule or cancel the event. And there is no plan on how they will prepare against the spread of the epidemics when a couple of people are already suspected of the virus.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel” the statement said.
J&K RTI Movement General Secretary, Dr. Fayaz Lone appeals the Government to not put millions of lives in danger and have this event cancelled or rescheduled for humanitarian purpose. In order to observe the caution, to have events in near future cancelled across J&K.
Peer Mohiuddin, Vice Chair of the J&K RTI Movement says our campaign is a grassroots campaign and such, we have already initiated awareness raising for masses through the medium of Masjids and engaging with Public health officials in urban and rural areas.
The campaign further appeals that our focus should be to protect lives in general and a special focus on vulnerable population groups like children, elderly, diabetic and asthmatic – that have less immunity when compared to the rest. If need be, schools to be closed.
The campaign draws the statement to close by adding, “The Government must ensure they have ample medic and para-medic staff and supplies to cater to the needs of emergency, and ensure free supplies of sanitizers and masks to the public, the statement issued to KNS reads” (KNS).