Hundreds take part in religious procession despite COVID-19 restrictions, in Madhya Pradesh

BJP MLA Virendra Raghuwanshi was among those who participated in the event which took place on Wednesday.

Hundreds of people, most of them without masks, took part in a religious procession at Lukwasa in Madhya Pradesh’s Shivpuri district in a blatant violation of the COVID-19 protocol, a viral video showed.

BJP MLA Virendra Raghuwanshi was among those who participated in the event which took place on Wednesday.

All kinds of gatherings are currently banned in the State due to the coronavirus pandemic.

When contacted, Kolaras sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Ganesh Jaiswal said on Thursday that he did not know about the procession and no permission had been taken from the administration or the police for any such event.

In the video that went viral on social media, Mr. Raghuwanshi is seen wearing a mask but most others are neither wearing masks nor following social-distancing. Some are also seen dancing to drum-beats and music.

The MLA also posted a photo of himself on Facebook, stating “Got an opportunity to take part with family in ‘pran-pratistha’ (consecration of idol) at the Maiharwali Mata Ma Sharda Devi’s new temple.”