No big rallies in Bengal, only small meetings with 500 people: BJP

NEW DELHI: BJP will not hold any big rallies in West Bengal amid an unprecedented rise in Covid-19 cases across the country.

BJP announced that only 500 people will be present in public meetings even in rallies addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other party leaders in the state.

"It has been decided that only small public meetings with not more than 500 people will be held by PM Modi and other central ministers in West Bengal. All these public meetings will be held in open spaces following Covid-19 guidelines," BJP said in a statement.

"On the call of party president JP Nadda, dedicated Covid-19 helpdesk and Covid helpline to be released in all states. We have set a target of distribution of 6 crore masks and sanitisers in West Bengal," it added.

Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday cancelled all her scheduled “big rallies” in Kolkata in view of the Covid surge, restricting herself to just one meeting and fewer gatherings within a limited time in districts “where cases are lower”.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had also suspended his campaign for the West Bengal assembly elections. The former Congress president also advised all political leaders "to think deeply about the consequences of holding large public rallies" under the current circumstances.