File photo of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. ANI
The Congress leader also exhorted all political leaders 'to think deeply about the consequences of holding large public rallies under the current circumstances'
File photo of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. ANI
New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday cancelled all his public rallies in poll-bound West Bengal following a rapid rise in cases in the country. He also advised all other politicians to think about the consequences of holding large public rallies.
"In view of the Covid situation, I am suspending all my public rallies in West Bengal," he said on Twitter.
In view of the Covid situation, I am suspending all my public rallies in West Bengal.
I would advise all political leaders to think deeply about the consequences of holding large public rallies under the current circumstances.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) April 18, 2021
The Congress has been critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for holding political rallies amid the rise in cases in the country.
Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram has accused the prime minister of "shocking callousness" for holding big political rallies in poll-bound Bengal amid the rise in cases.
He said the prime minister should be at his job, sitting at his desk and coordinating with chief ministers in handling the COVID pandemic.
Modi has been addressing public rallies in West Bengal for the eight-phase assembly elections in the state.
India has been witnessing a massive surge in cases.
A record single-day rise of 2,61,500 infections has taken the country's total tally of cases to 1,47,88,109, while active cases surpassed the 18-lakh mark, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday.