“Should the Kumbh Mela even be held’ – Abhinav Bindra lashes out at wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt for defending the organisation of Khumb Mela amidst pandemic

“Should the Kumbh Mela even be held’ – Abhinav Bindra lashes out at wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt for defending the organisation of Khumb Mela amidst pandemic

Yogeshwar Dutt and Abhinav Bindra

India is experiencing a devastating second wave of COVID-19. The country has been reporting cases in excess of two lakhs for the last four days. And the ongoing Kumbh Mela is deemed to be huge reason behind the spike in cases in the country as lakhs of devotees converge at Haridwar for a dip in the Ganga river. Official figures for the period between April 10 to 14 placed the number of infected persons at 1,701.

While the religious gathering draws flak, wrestler turned politician Yogeshwar Dutt came forward to defend the state’s move. He tweeted busting multiple myths that are being peddled about the devotees who attended the holy gathering.

“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,” Dutt tweeted.

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Olympic medallist Abhinav Bindra replied to Dutt asking if it was a wise decision to organise such a huge gathering as pandemic rages around the world. India added 260,533 new COVID-19 cases and 1,492 deaths to its mounting tally today.

“Should the Khumb mela even be held while an infectious pandemic lays waste to india? A virus does not discriminate between religions,” Bindra hit back.

“U r failing the entire sports community with this,” Abhinav Bindra

Abhinav Bindra
Abhinav Bindra

Bindra lashed out at Dutt for his tweet. The celebrated shooter asserts that it is high time that saving lives be prioritised ahead of political issues. He even added that the wrestler has failed the entire sports community with the tweet of his.

‘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 tweeted.

The organisers of the mela have been the worst hit by the virus. The mahamandaleshwar of the Maha Nirvani Akhara from Madhya Pradesh, Swami Kapil Dev, succumbing to  COVID-19 on April 13. The president of the Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad, Mahant Narendra Giri has been admitted to AIIMS, Rishikesh after testing positive for the disease last week.

Following the latest developments, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has requested the pilgrims to keep the attendance at the Hindu festival ‘symbolic’.

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