Former CM Parkash Singh Badal again tests Covid-negative; leaves for Gurugram

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service
Muktsar, March 18

Two days after SAD chief-cum-MP Ferozepur Sukhbir Singh Badal tested positive for COVID-19 and was admitted to Medanta Hospital in Gurugram on Wednesday, his father, former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, too left for Gurugram on Thursday.

He left from his Badal village residence in a cavalcade of vehicles in the afternoon and then boarded a chartered plane from Bhisiana airport in Bathinda.

Before leaving, he was tested for COVID-19 today and tested negative.

“Badal sahib was tested today for the COVID-19 and the report came negative,” said Dr Manju Bansal, SMO, Civil Hospital, Badal.

Sources said taking preventive measures, the SAD patron would now isolate himself for a couple of days at a palatial hotel owned by the family.

Notably, 93-year-old Badal was staying at his Badal village residence here for the past few days.

Even though the elderly Badal was tested negative for COVID-19 on Tuesday, yet three of his domestic workers, including a cook and a personal attendant, had tested positive on Tuesday. It had set the alarm bells ringing for the Badal family.

From the last about a year, since the pandemic outbreak, the former CM has been living indoors mostly.

Even during the cremation of his younger brother Gurdas Singh Badal and a close aide Dyal Singh Kolianwali a few days ago, he was seen following the Covid norms, wearing face mask and gloves.

Sources close to the Badals said they did not want to take any risk, thus decided to bring the SAD patron too to the national capital region (NCR).

“The personal staff, including a doctor and a DSP, too has left for Gurugram along with Badal sahib,” they said.

Notably, MP Bathinda Harsimrat Kaur Badal and her three children are presently staying at her official residence in Delhi.

Meanwhile, the COVID-19 test reports of a number of people deployed at the Badals’ residence, including security personnel, were awaited.