BJP leader Ravinder Raina tests positive for Covid-19
Jitendra Singh, Ram Madhav also go for self-quarantine
Jammu/New Delhi: Jammu and Kashmir BJP chief Ravinder Raina, who had visited slain colleague Waseem Bari’s residence along with several leaders in Bandipora, on Tuesday said he has tested positive for COVID-19.
Raina said he visited north Kashmir’s Bandipora area to take part in last rites of former BJP district president Waseem Bari, his father and brother, who were killed by terrorists last week outside their home.
BJP general secretary Ram Madhav, Union Minister Jitendra Singh, Raina and other party leaders had later on Sunday visited Bari’s residence.
“I have tested positive for COVID-19. I had gone to Bandipora area of north Kashmir to take part in the last rites of slain BJP leader, his father and brother. I was there for the past five days”, Raina said.
Raina is being referred to Narayana hospital situated in the Katra belt of Reasi district for treatment. He had undergone COVID-19 test on Monday which came positive.
At Bandipora, Raina had led the funeral procession along with party’s general secretary (Organisation) Ashok Kaul on July 11.
Raina said he along with other leaders had visited the area despite the threat given by militants not to take part in the funeral procession.
“I left for Bandipora soon after hearing the bad news. I was there for five days,” Raina said.
Despite the rising number of COVID-19 cases in Bandipora, the BJP made it a point to be with the victim’s family, he said.
Meanwhile, Union minister Jitendra Singh and BJP general secretary Ram Madhav have gone into self-quarantine after Rainatested positive for coronavirus on Tuesday.
Singh, who is also a party MP from Udhampur, said he has gone into self-quarantine.
“Have gone into self-quarantine with immediate effect from 4 PM today, after receiving the news about corona positive test of J&K BJP President Ravinder Raina who had accompanied us from Srinagar to Bandipora on 12th July,” he tweeted.
Singh, Minister of State for Personnel, had visited the house of his party colleague Waseem Bari, who along with his father and brother were shot dead by terrorists in North Kashmir’s Bandipora last week.
Singh, who is also a doctor, was accompanied by Raina, Madhav and other leaders during the visit to Bari’s residence.
Madhav also tweeted, “Am quarantining myself for a few days since my colleague and BJP J&K President Ravinder Raina tested positive for corona today and I was with him 48 hrs ago in Srinagar. I tested negative for corona 4 times during travel in last 2 weeks. Yet taking precautions to ensure safety of me and others.”
Earlier in the day, Raina said, “I have tested positive for COVID-19. I had gone to Bandipora area of north Kashmir to take part in the last rites of slain BJP leader, his father and brother. I was there for the past five days.”
At Bandipora, Raina had also led Bari’s funeral procession along with party’s general secretary (Organisation) Ashok Kaul on July 11.
Meanwhile, the party’s Kashmir unit has appealed to all the workers who came in contact with the BJP chief, to go for Covid testing.
A statement issued by the party’s media in-charge said that all the workers who met BJP chief at Bandipora and Srinagar must come forward and conduct Covid tests.
A party source said that many leaders and workers met Raina without any protection, especially face masks and there is every possibility that they may have contracted the virus. “The party chief may become a super spreader for the virus within the BJP’s Kashmir chapter,” he said. (with inputs from PTI)
