The Rath Yatra at Odisha's Puri began yesterday. Since this has come at a time of the coronavirus outbreak, many are slamming the organizers. One too many commentators have tried to draw a parallel with the Tablighi Jamaat-organized Nizamuddin Markaz in March in Delhi.

However, those supporting the Puri event say that the two can't be compared. Columnist Pratyasha Rath informs that every single Sevayat participating in the event was tested. "Their results came negative. There are no devotees in attendance. They are all servitors and cops. The Yatra is taking place in a period when the country has been unlocked. The permission of the Supreme Court was taken to hold it. The state government is involved. No one is hiding information or denying tests," Pratyasha Rath writes.

In the case of the Nizamuddin Markaz, it happened in violation of the Delhi government orders against the congregation of more than 200 people. There were severe violations. Many foreign attendees had entered India on tourist visas, but they participated in religious activities. Earlier this month, about 2,400 of them were blacklisted.

The state police are overseeing the Puri Yatra, while the Markaz was carried out against rules.