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the statements of political leaders including justifica-
tions by the under fire Sidhu couple, yet almost none
was found critical of the immediate medical care and
other relief measures.
Over 50 injured of the total 64 brought to the GMC
and the Civil Hospital by October 22 could be resusci-
tated. At the GMC alone, about 600 blood donors in-
cluding members of blood donor societies and even
the devotees from outside Amritsar visiting the Gold-
en Temple turned up to donate blood throughout the
fateful night. “Responding to the call of duty with
missionary zeal, at least five doctors along with para- photos: raman gill
medics took care of each patient. It is heartening to
note that majority of the patients are doing fine,” said ment staff, NGOs and individual philanthropists for
Dr Rakesh Sharma, Professor of Surgery managing their collective efforts in controlling, in about two
emergency services at the GMC who saved a 7-year- days, the major part of the crisis that originated on
old child in critical condition after a long surgery. longer weekend starting with Dussehra holiday.
Deputy Commissioner, Amritsar Kamaldeep Singh “Even the government employees who were off duty
Sangha, who dealt with the first unfortunate incident voluntarily reported back,” added Sangha.
of this scale in his career, complimented the govern- Amid the relief operations by the government

Samaritan navjot Singh Sidhu

faceS oppoSition’S ire

Be it cricket or politics, who claimed 58 lives, the Sidhu may be unjustifiably accused of
controversies follow being solely responsible for the mayhem, yet they can’t especially
for firebrand cricketer- Navjot Sidhu escape the political firing line. A verbose speaker,
turned politician Navjot as he is known as, got the taste of his own medicine. He never lost
Singh Sidhu. No sooner any opportunity to launch scathing attack on Badals and Majithia
did the tragedy occur on since his days in the BJP as MP from Amritsar and later when his
Dussehra in Amritsar east wife was elected as BJP MLA from Amritsar.
constituency represented Always in confrontationist mode whether on the floor of the
by him in the Punjab As- Punjab Assembly since he became congress MLA and Minister
sembly, the rivals led by after joining the party just before 2017 Assembly elections,
Akali-BJP combine started Sidhu took on the Badals accusing them of every single wrong
baying for his blood. And done to Punjab during their decade long rule in the state.
this happened despite the Sources say that irrepressible Sidhu also faces isolation even
fact that he was outside among the members of his party’s government. the stories of
Punjab on this day. His wife Navjot kaur Sidhu, who manages his differences with ministerial colleagues and on top of all,
the constituency in his absence owing to his ministerial and with the chief Minister are much talked about in the corridors
other assignment given by the congress, had to bear the brunt of power allegedly on account penchant to always steal the
of the onslaught. the opposition demanded registration of show and arrogance best reflected in use of language even with
case against the couple even before being indicted by any probe the mediapersons.
finding. coming back to the Dussehra tragedy, initially all seemed go-
Observers say the opposition tirade led by his bête noire ing against the couple in public perception given the high number
Sukhbir Badal and his brother-in-law Bikram Majithia is politically of casualties. Afraid of the public backlash given the circum-
motivated. Given the available facts about the tragic incident stances and the manner in which the mayhem took place, even,

Tehelka / 15 november 2018 16 www.Tehelka.com

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