BJP not to hold protest for 1 month in view of coronavirus outbreak: J P Nadda

Walking the tight rope of appearing not to spread panic and yet not drop the caution on COVID-19, the ruling BJP on Wednesday decided not to hold any public rally or public protest for next one month given the coronavirus scare.

This was days after its ideological fountainhead Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) cancelled the three-days annually meet of its the highest decision-making body Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha (ABPS), which was scheduled in Bengaluru from March 15 to 17.

The BJP will now raise issues related to people interest through posters, petitions and other alternative methods. The party has also issued a circular to all its state units asking them to maintain a vigil on Coronavirus.

In a press statement, BJP chief JP Nadda said the party has directed all state units to the dos and donts of coronavirus in small groups after the party decided not to hold any protest or demonstration for a month given the coronavirus outbreak.

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On a different note, Congress leader Digivjaya Singh rued that the BJP government at Centre instead of fighting coronavirus is busy toppling Opposition governments

BJP is not keen to accept the demand some of it leaders including former Union Minister Vijay Goel to adjourn the Parliament sine die before the scheduled end of the session as the top government brass feels, it could set a panic alarm.

PM Narendra Modi had said the lawmakers should be seen to be doing their work at a time when a health concern stares at the masses. Nadda in the press statement said while raising public issues, four to five office bearers of the party will submit memorandums to authorities concerned whenever necessary to avoid conglomeration of people.

Earlier the President of NDA ally Ram Vilas Paswan’s Lok Jan Shakti Party Chirag Paswan had postponed his party's 'Bihar first, Bihari first' rally in Patna scheduled for April 14, besides deferring his ongoing yatra in the state in view of coronavirus threat.

Leader of another NDA ally RPI (A), Ramdas Athavale raised the slogan "Corona Go..Corona Go" in the company of Chinese diplomats that went viral on social media some days ago.

Other parties have also voiced concerns.

BJD member Pinaki Misra had on last Thursday demanded thermal imaging cameras be installed in Parliament complex in the wake of coronavirus outbreak, a demand that has been heeded.

While Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi on Tuesday had merely said the functioning of Parliament is in contradiction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's suggestion of adhering to social distancing and closure of schools and colleges due to the threat of coronavirus in the country, he had refrained from seeking closure of Parliament session. His colleague and Congress MP for Thiruvananthapuram Shashi Tharoor shed the inhibition on the issue.

While taking note of Parliament security on Wednesday starting conducting fever checks on occupants of all cars entering the premises, he pointed out that the problem is that fever only starts on Day 3 of COVID 19 and warned that carriers may still be coming in.

“We need to adjourn,” he pitched saying it is ironic that Members of Parliament, who must exhort their constituents to take necessary precautions against COVID 19 continue to congregate in Parliament, where they sit cheek-by-jowl on narrow benches.

“Far from “practice what you preach”, MPs’ msg is: “do as I say, not as I do!”, he said sarcastically.