To adhere to the Janta Curfew on Sunday to reduce the spread of coronavirus, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) will hold its meeting at local units before or after the restriction sets in.
RSS general secretary Suresh Bhaiyaji Joshi said in a statement on Saturday that keeping in mind Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for a public curfew on Sunday, shakhas will be held before 6.30 am or after 9.30 pm on Sunday.
“Volunteers can gather and pray in their area, locality or society as per their convenience,” Joshi said.
Shakhas are the local units where volunteers gather for exercises, prayer and other interactive events.
The Prime Minister had in his address to the nation asked people to stay off the roads and public places during the Janta Curfew, which will be in place for 14 hours from 7am to 9pm on Sunday.
“Today, I am seeking one more support from every citizen. It is Janta Curfew – a curfew for the people and imposed by people themselves,” PM Modi had said.
The RSS had earlier called off the meeting of its highest decision-making body, the Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha, last week after the government’s directions to cut down on large gatherings to prevent the spread of the virus that is now a global pandemic.
According to an RSS functionary, instructions have been issued to all state units to follow the government guidelines to check the spread of the virus.
Since shakhas are held on a daily and weekly basis where volunteers congregate, the Sangh leadership has issued instructions to follow the norms of social distancing, said a functionary.
In some areas, district or state units have drawn up programmes to be followed on Sunday at all shakhas.
The government said the number of Sars-Cov-2 cases in India rose to 258 on Saturday after 35 fresh cases were reported in various parts of the country.
