Clarion India
VADODARA – Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA from Waghodia Assembly Constituency in Vadodara, Madhu Shrivastav, who recently recovered from Covid-19, held an event at a temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman in Gajrawdi area of the city on Saturday, where he danced and sang bhajans with his supporters, flouting Covid-19 norms such as wearing masks and social distancing.
In a video that was widely shared on social media on Sunday, the MLA, who has acted in self produced Gujarati films, is seen inside the temple dancing to bhajans being played by the musicians and surrounded by several people, without masks.
The three-minute video has Shrivastav dressed in black track pants and T-shirt, dancing and playing the temple dhol as his supporters cheer and help him. Except for two musicians — one dhol player and another ringing bells at a distance — no one, including the priest of the temple, is seen wearing masks.
Shrivastav, who tested positive for Covid-19 during the end of August, was hospitalised for over a week and recently completed quarantine. His long time personal assistant died of Covid just before Shrivastav tested positive.
During his stay in the hospital, Shrivastav had released a video addressing his supporters, in which he had said, “I am Bahubali and I will defeat coronavirus. There is nothing like coronavirus. It is not so strong. Half of it has already been defeated and I will defeat the other half too. I will always be in your service.”
On Sunday, Shrivastav told The Indian Express, “The video of me dancing in the temple is true. I do it every Saturday. I went there yesterday as I have been going there for over 45 years… I have not flouted any guidelines because the government has allowed gatherings. There is circular regarding the same. There were just a few people and it was my private gathering.”
Adding that the temple is owned by him, he said, “There is no need for masks inside a temple. I sing bhajans on my own as I have been doing it for several years,” he said.
