Coronavirus: Thousands gather at religious leader's funeral in Madhya Pradesh
Bhopal/ IBNS: Thousands of people, including BJP and Congress leaders, gathered at the funeral ceremony of a renowned spiritual leader in Madhya Pradesh's Katni amid lockdown on Monday, said media reports.
According to an NDTV report, Dev Prabhakar Shastri, popularly known as 'Daddaji', died of lung and kidney ailments in Delhi on Sunday. He was brought to Madhya Pradesh by actor Ashutosh Rana and former state minister Sanjay, the report added.
Madya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, BJP national general secretary Kailash Vijaywargiya, MP Congress chief Kamal Nath and senior Congress leader paid homage, stated the report.
Social media videos showed thousands gathered at the ceremony.
From the Congress, sitting MLA Lakhan Ghangoria was seen at the spiritual leader's funeral, which was done with full state honours, said an India Today report.
Thousands gathered in Katni during the last rites of noted spiritual leader ''Daddaji'', including politicians from congress-BJP, violating #SocialDistancing norms @ndtv@SreenivasanJain @ndtvindia #Lockdown4 #lockdown4guidelines #COVID19 #MigrantWorkers @INCIndia @BJP4India pic.twitter.com/ihro2RRN7a
— Anurag Dwary (@Anurag_Dwary) May 18, 2020
However, Katni District Collector Shashi Bhushan Singh told NDTV there was no violation and social distancing was maintained.
Assemblies have been banned by the government since March to stop the spread of highly contagious coronavirus.
On Sunday, the Centre extended the lockdown till May 31. In the new guidelines to the states, it said funerals should not have more than 20 people.
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