Singer’s COVID-19 status has politicians worried

Leaders who attended events with Kanika also met President

21/03/2020, OMAR RASHID,LUCKNOW

Bollywood singer Kanika Kapoor’s announcement on Friday that she had tested positive for COVID-19 triggered a scare among several top politicians who had attended a series of events with her in Lucknow recently as well as those who were in contact with them.

Many have since announced that they were going into quarantine.

Following Ms. Kapoor’s revelation on Instagram, BJP leader and former Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje stated that she, along with her son and MP Dushyant Singh had attended a dinner where Ms. Kapoor was present, and as a matter of “abundant self-caution” were immediately adopting self-quarantine.

Mr. Singh was among many MPs who attended a breakfast meeting hosted by President Ram Nath Kovind on March 18 as well as a parliamentary panel meeting attended by around 20 MPs later in the day.

While Rashtrapati Bhavan is yet to issue any statement, it is learnt that Mr. Kovind would follow all protocols prescribed. The Uttar Pradesh government has not revealed the names of politicians, bureaucrats and socialites who allegedly attended the event.

Late on Friday, an FIR was lodged against Ms. Kapoor for negligence. She was booked under Sections 188, 269 and 270 of the IPC.