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As thousands of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) patients in the national capital gasp for oxygen, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Gautam Gambhir on Saturday said he will distribute 200 oxygen concentrators among people for free from Sunday onwards, ANI reported. "I've ordered 200 oxygen concentrators and will distribute them among people for free. It will start tomorrow. People have to bring doctor's prescription and patient's oxygen level details to get oxygen concentrators," he said, according to ANI.

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The East Delhi MP said the step has been taken to strengthen the city’s fight against the second wave of the virus. "The concentrators, that have been bought by the MP out of his own pocket, will be made available to all those suffering from mild to moderate COVID-19 infection at home," a statement issued by his office said.

Also Read: Row over Gautam Gambhir’s offer of free FabiFlu from his office

Earlier last week, the MP's decision to offer free antiviral drug Fabiflu from his local office had triggered a row. Following his announcement, the Opposition accused him of hoarding the drug. “People of East Delhi can get ‘Fabiflu’ from MP office (2, Jagriti Enclave) for FREE between 10-5. Kindly get Aadhar & prescription,” Gambhir had tweeted, without mentioning how he managed to get the supply of the medicine which can only be bought on a doctor’s prescription. The Delhi High Court had also questioned if Gambhir had license to procure and distribute the drug in large quantities.

Commenting on the situation in Delhi, the cricketer-turned-politician said people are desperately looking for oxygen cylinders while the Arvind Kejriwal-led government was "abdicating" its responsibility. "Delhi does not deserve this chaos and I will do whatever it takes, whatever is in my power, to help the people in their fight against one of the toughest battles we have seen in recent times," he said.

Readers’ Take: Who let the dogs out in the tricity?

Avoid feeding the problem While the Chandigarh municipal corporation has failed to deal with the stray dog menace, dog lovers who feed these dogs with an almost karmic zeal should share some of the blame. Such people take no responsibility if the dogs they feed chase or bite others. Packs of strays lurk in public parks or street corners, chase vehicles and howl at night disturbing the neighbourhood. There should be designated feeding areas instead.

Appoint nodal officer to ensure proper use of funds: Punjab DGP Bhawra to police officials

With the funds allotted to the police department by the government for investigation of cases remaining underutilised, Director General of Police VK Bhawra has written to the senior officials to appoint a nodal officer to ensure that the money is used properly and conduct random checks as to where the investigation officers are arranging money from.

2 held with 140kg poppy husk, 50,000 pills in Ferozepur

Ferozepur Two men were arrested with 140kg poppy husk and 50,000 banned pills in Ferozepur on Friday. The accused are Kulwant Singh of Nizamwala village and Gurkirtan Singh of Joge Wala village. SSP, Ferozepur, Charanjit Singh Sohal, said, “We setup a checkpoint in the grain market in Lakho Ke Behram village on the Ferozepur-Fazilka Road and recovered 140 kg poppy husk and 50,000 intoxicant tablets and two smartphones from a truck.”

Dalit boy stripped, thrashed: NCSC directs Punjab officials to file action taken report

Taking suo moto cognizance, the National Commission for Schedule Castes on Friday issued a notice to Punjab government officials asking them to submit an action taken report till May 26 in an incident wherein a 12-year-old dalit teenager boy was allegedly stripped and thrashed in Muktsar district.

Ludhiana court blast: IED supplier among four arrested for cross-border smuggling

The supplier of the improvised explosive device (IED) used in the Ludhiana court blast was among four persons arrested for their alleged involvement in cross-border smuggling of drugs, explosives arms and ammunition through drones, police said on Friday. The arrested accused are Sawinder Singh, Harpreet Singh and a minor of Dhanoia Khurd village, and Dilbagh Singh of Chak Allah Bakash village in Amritsar. One Surmukh Singh of Panjukalal village, Amritsar is also in police custody.

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