Abhinav Bindra questions Kumbh Mela amid pandemic, chides Yogeshwar Dutt for backing it

India’s solely particular person Olympic gold-medallist, shooter Abhinav Bindra, on Saturday questioned the choice to proceed with the Haridwar Kumbh Mela amid the raging COVID-19 pandemic, saying “a virus does not discriminate between religions”.
The Kumbh Mela is being seen as a possible superspreader with lakhs of devotees converging at Haridwar for a dip within the Ganga river. Official figures for the interval between April 10 to 14 positioned the variety of contaminated at 1701.
“Should the Khumb (sic) mela even be held while an infectious pandemic lays waste to india? A virus does not discriminate between religions,” wrote Bindra on his twitter deal with in response to a tweet by wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt.
Dutt, who had gained the bronze within the 60kg freestyle class on the 2012 London Olympics, had lately supported the conduct of the occasion in his social media put up on Wednesday.
“No one in the Kumbh Mela is reaching there illegally, people are following all protocols, no one is spitting at the security and medical staff, no one is running away after hiding from the administration. Stop defaming the peaceful devotees at Kumbh,” he had tweeted.
Bindra’s response to Dutt’s tweet didn’t cease on the query. He went on to criticise the wrestler, who’s now a member of the ruling BJP, for lending his assist to the conduct of the large gathering.
“Athletes r known to keep their eye on the ball,their focus unwavering & to not get distracted by wht is most important at this time — saving lives,finding cures THAT can work & showing compassion & empathy 4 those who r loosing loved ones. U r failing the entire sports community with this,” the celebrated shooter posted.
Overall, 2,34,692 contemporary COVID-19 contemporary circumstances had been reported within the nation on Tuesday, the most important every day spike to date.
Amid the unprecedented surge, Prime Minister Narendra Modi additionally mentioned that attendance on the Hindu competition needs to be “symbolic”.
President of Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad, Mahant Naredra Giri was admitted to AIIMS, Rishikesh after testing optimistic for the illness final week.
Mahamandaleshwar of Maha Nirvani Akhara from Madhya Pradesh, Swami Kapil Dev, who was below remedy for COVID-19 at a non-public hospital right here, died on April 13.