Bhopal: BJP Leader and Madhya Pradesh Minister for Tourism and Culture Usha Thakur conducted a puja in Indore Airport 'to ward off COVID.' As someone who does pujas and Hanuman bhajans daily, she does not require masks, she told NDTV.
The minister's controversial puja was held on Friday, without masks, in front of the Ahalya Bai Holkar statue. The airport director Aryama Sanyas and the minister's staff participated. They are all seen to be wearing masks. The visuals went viral on social media.
Usha Thakur had already 'discovered' that burning cow dung could disinfect a house for twelve hours. Last year, union minister Ramdas Athawale had claimed that chanting 'Go Corona, Go' would dispel the virus. He had later sought treatment after contracting the virus. Presently there are 3,27,220 COVID patients in Madhya Pradesh, with 4882 new infections in 24 hours.