Ghulam Nabi Azad tests positive for COVID-19; in home quarantine

New Delhi: Ghulam Nabi Azad, the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha and Congress veteran, on Friday tweeted that he has contracted the novel coronavirus and has been under home quarantine. He also advised those who had come in contact with him to follow the COVID-19 safety protocols.

"I have tested positive for COVID-19. I am in home quarantine. Those who came in contact with me in last few days may kindly follow the protocol," he wrote.

Earlier, several other senior Congress leaders like Ahmed Patel, Motilal Vora and Abhishek Singhvi had tested positive for COVID-19, news agency PTI reported. While Mr Singhvi has recovered, other leaders are still under treatment.

Several senior politicians across the country have tested positive for the virus in the last few weeks. Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, Union Ministers Amit Shah, Nitin Gadkari and Pralhad Patel had tested positive for the virus and had recovered.

Mr Azad's party colleague Anand Sharma wished him a speedy recovery.

"Concerned that my friend and LOp in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad has tested COVID positive. Wishing him good and early recovery," he tweeted.

Mr Azad had spearheaded the Congress attack in parliament against the Centre's farm laws last month. Amid the Opposition boycott, he had met with President Ram Nath Kovind and demanded he returned the bills.

"The government should have consulted all parties and farmer leaders before bringing the farm bills. We have given a representation to President that the farm bills have been passed unconstitutionally and he should return these bills," Mr Azad had said.

India's coronavirus tally surged to 73.7 lakh cases after a fresh spike of 63,371 COVID-19 infections in the last 24 hours, the government data showed this morning. The number of fatalities stood at 1,12,161 after 895 deaths were registered in a day.