In a serious violation of social distancing norms, hundreds of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) workers gathered to welcome Tamil Nadu Minister for Cooperation Sellur Raju upon the leader's arrival in Madurai after recovering from coronavirus.
Sellur Raju, who had tested positive for coronavirus, was discharged from MIOT Hospital in Chennai after the minister recovered from the infection.
Even as large gatherings are still banned, with the Tamil Nadu government extending lockdown till August 31 clamped to curb the spread of the contagion, ruling AIADMK workers were seen blatantly flouting social distancing norms.
A video of the AIADMK workers violating social distancing norms has been shared by news agency ANI.
The video showed a crowd, gathered to welcome the cavalcade of Tamil Nadu Minister Sellur Raju, bursting crackers upon the leader's arrival.
#WATCH: Tamil Nadu Minister Sellur Raju who had recovered from #COVID19, was welcomed by All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) workers on returning to Madurai; social distancing norms flouted. (30/7) pic.twitter.com/VdhIcEk2LC
— ANI (@ANI) July 31, 2020
In clear violation of social distancing norms, Sellur Raju's supporters are seen greeting the leader, while some even tried clicking selfies with him.
The incident comes at a time when Madurai has been witnessing a rising number of coronavirus cases.
Tamil Nadu, however, witnessed a dip in the fresh coronavirus cases in the state as a total of 5,864 people tested positive on Thursday compared to around 7,000 in the last few days while the total infection count rose to 2,39,978.
The toll due to the disease shot up to 3,838 with 97 more deaths, a health department bulletin said. The state recorded 5,295 recoveries, taking the cumulative number of those discharged to 1,78,178. Active cases, including those in isolation, were 57,962.
The state government announced extending the lockdown, clamped to curb the spread of the contagion, till August 31, but allowed more relaxations such as increasing the workforce in private firms in non-containment zones under Greater Chennai Police limits.