A group of women stopped Agriculture Minister Dr Ram Lal Markanda from visiting Spiti, the area being represented by him in Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly.
The residents of Spiti had banned entry of all people coming from outside in the month of March in the wake of threat of spread of COVID-19 virus.
The residents had been sending all vehicles carrying outsiders back from the tribal area and even local residents have been instructed to undergo fourteen days self quarantine.
Dr Markanda, who is MLA from Lahual –Spiti had gone to meet labourers sitting on dharana to protest the decision of the Central government to handing over upkeep of Grammphu- Kaza- Samdho road from Border Road Organisation (BRO) to Public Works Department (PWD), apprehending retrenchment.
This road is life line for people of the area and also of strategic importance as it provides vital road link to the Indian Army stationed on China borders and neighboring Kinnaur district.
On reaching Kaza on Tuesday, a group of local women asked the minister to undergo fourteen days self quarantine.
Former MLA of Lahual –Spiti and Congress leader Ravi Thakur said, “It is the doing of present MLA and reflects annoyance of local residents.”
Agriculture Minister Dr Ram Lal Markanda said, “I had gone to Spiti to meet the labourers and clear their apprehension of retrenchment after transfer of maintenance works of Gramphu – Kaza- Samdoh road from the BRO to PWD.”
“The labourers have now been convinced but certain people tried to play petty politics over my visit to the area,” he added.
