Patna (Bihar): Despite the death of thousands of people due to COVID-19 in Bihar, people are flouting the SOP's during election rallies. Neither is COVID an issue for the political parties nor people seen caring much about the virus. In such a situation, the question arises if the fear of COVID has ended in Bihar?
All the parties are exerting their full strength to win Bihar elections. Right from BJP national president JP Nadda to the CM of Uttar Pradesh Adityanath, all BJP leaders are busy addressing rallies to impress voters.
On the other hand, Tejashwi and Nitish Kumar are also campaigning for the elections.
Although, when the ETV Bharat correspondent did a reality check of the rallies of these political bigwigs, it was found that neither the guideline on mask nor social distancing was seen anywhere in these large gatherings.
However, COVID protocol was being followed during some rallies.
JP Nadda's public meeting in Western Champaran
BJP national president JP Nadda addressed a public meeting at Bada Ramna in Bettiah on Wednesday, however, social distancing norms were openly flouted and people were mostly seen without masks. It is to be noted that, JP Nadda had also attended an event in Gaya on 11 October, in which the district administration had filed an FIR against the organizers for ignoring the rules of social distancing. According to the police, the participants in the rally allegedly violated the guidelines by not wearing masks and disregarding social distancing rules.
UP CM Yogi's public meeting in Jamui
UP CM Yogi Adityanath addressed a public rally at Shri Krishna Singh Stadium in Jamui on Wednesday. During this, he talked about article 370 to Pakistan and surgical strike. He also appealed to people to wear face masks and follow social distancing, but it did not show any effect. Here too, the protocol was followed only on the stage, but nobody standing below the stage seemed worried about the SOP's.
The second rally of Yogi in Bhojpur seemed no better. Here too, fear of COVID was missing among the public. The supporters of Yogi reached here in thousands without wearing face masks. No social distancing was seen among the crowd.
Rules openly flouted in Nitish's public meeting at Saran
The view of Bihar chief Nitish Kumar's rally in Saran was no different. While Nitish was addressing the rally to seek votes in favour of JDU candidate Altaf Alam Raju of Saharan's Madhaura Assembly, social distancing norms were openly being flouted. Although some people were wearing face masks, most of them did not seem to bother much about the pandemic.
Tejaswi's meeting in Rohtas, people forgot the protocol
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav's rallies are attracting huge crowds and NDA is very upset with that. However, in the midst of all this, there is a lot of negligence shown towards COVID guideline. On Wednesday, Tejashwi reached Rohtas' Dehri Assembly where he sought votes in support of RJD candidate Fateh Bahadur. But here, people became uncontrollable to get his glimpse and flouted all the COVID guidelines.
Rajnath's meeting in Bhojpur
A large crowd had gathered in the election meeting of Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Nityananda Rai and MP of Arah, RK Singh also addressed a public meeting in support of NDA candidate Raghavendra Pratap from Bhojpur's Barhra Assembly. However, people who came to attend the rally seemed less bothered about COVID protocols.
According to the guidelines issued by the Home Department, it is mandatory to wear masks during rallies, indoor as well as outdoor. Not more than 200 people should gather in a closed hall and it is necessary to follow social distancing of six feet.
Hugging and shaking hands should be avoided at rallies. Besides ensuring the availability of paper napkins, it is also necessary to make proper sanitation arrangements at the venue. Although, the COVID Protocol is not seen being followed anywhere.
Also read: Nitish Kumar mentally and physically tired: Tejashwi Yadav
