In a shocking development, Nritya Gopal Das, the chairman of Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, has confirmed to have contracted to the COVID-19 viral infection on Thursday. He is currently in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh where he went to attend the Janamastamil celebrations. The state Chief Minister office said that the Chief Minister has been following his health condition. 

According to the reports, Nritya Gopal Das has shared the stage with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 5, during the groundbreaking ceremony of Lord Ram temple in Ayodhya. The Prime Minister had attended the religious event and laid down the first stone of the temple. The visuals from the event had shown that the Prime Minister had come in close contact with Gopal Das. 

In a statement, the Chief Minister office said that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has been obtaining details of the health status of Mahat Nritya Gopal Das, who has been tested positive for COVID-19. The Chief Minister has also spoken with the District Magistrate of Mathura and Dr. Trehan, the chairman of Medanta Hospital, and requested immediate medical attention for Gopal Das at the hospital.

CM has taken details of the health status on Mahant Nitya Gopaldas (in file pic) who has tested COVID19 positive. He has spoken to DM Mathura and to Dr Trehan of Medanta and requested for immediate medical attention for him at the hospital: Chief Ministers' Office pic.twitter.com/w3T8LN9Afz

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) August 13, 2020

The development has come nearly eight days after the ceremony and along with the Prime Minister, Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, and RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat have also shared the stage with Nritya Gopal Das and during the ceremony, the latter was seen without a mask and he was seen standing close to the Prime Minister and other dignitaries.

According to ANI, Mathura district magistrate SR Mishra said that Mahant Nitya Gopaldas's condition is stable and he is being shifted to Medanta Hospital. 

The groundbreaking ceremony was held amid the rapid virus spread after some of the priests and policemen attached to the Ram Janmabhoomi complex had tested positive for the virus. Adding to that, the state ministers and BJP ministers had also spelled positive for the global pandemic. However, the ceremony has held as scheduled with no deferment. It was attended by 175 people including the religious leaders, saints, and seers as it was celebrated as the grand and historic event. 

Nritya Gopal Das has constructed many temples in Ayodhya. He belongs to Mathura and he is also the chief of Mani Ram Das Ki Chhawani, the largest temple in Ayodhya, and in 2003, he was appointed as the chairman of the Ram Janmabhoomi trust.