It has been alleged that the virus spread among the ISKCON devotees when 1,000 of them gathered for a funeral on 12 March.
London| The ISKCON, UK, has admitted that at least 21 of its devotees were infected because of the spread of the coronavirus amongst the UK devotee community following the March 12 funeral and March 15 memorial of the Bhaktivedanta Manor temple president, in which about 1,000 people participated.
Regretting that five of the devotees have passed away, the top Hindu religious in Britain body does not deny more may have been infected.
According to Praghosa, there were no restrictions in place in the United Kingdom at the time. ISKCON shut all its temples in the UK on 16 March, a week before Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a lockdown.
Even as expressing “thoughts, sympathies and prayers” for those among the devotees who have suffered, a top ISKCON UK office bearer, Praghosa Das, has been quoted as taking strong exception to “some corners” of the Internet were seeking to create the impression that the management was “irresponsible.”
Praghosa, however, said, “In hindsight, I think we would all agree now that it shouldn’t have gone ahead. But it’s easy to be wise after the event. We didn’t know then what we know now.”
While 21 confirmed cases have been reported, people on social media claim more than 100 devotees could possibly be infected by COVID-19 in the UK. Even Praghosa conceded that there are likely to be more cases of COVID-19 among devotees aside from the 21 reported.
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He said they should not take this lightly. “It’s not that somehow or other by chanting Hare Krishna it’s going to stop us from getting this virus – we have seen numerous cases of devotees being affected by it and sadly passing away. So we have to follow all precautions and directives from our governments. There is no question of us thinking that this is insignificant, or some kind of conspiracy theory. That would be a crazy path to follow.”
At the same time, ISKCON UK has sharply criticized “social media” claims that 100 devotees in the UK had contracted coronavirus. A report in ISKCON News by Madhava Smullen quotes top ISKCON office bearer, Praghosa Das, as “clearing up” the impression, perpetuated “in some corners of the Internet, that management was irresponsible”. It blames unidentified devotees for “false” social media posts in this regard.
With 21 confirmed cases of those who participated in the 1,000 strong gathering at Bhaktivedanta Manor and Soho St in London, and five deaths, the report, significantly, calls ISKCON UK as “amongst the worst affected communities by COVID-19”, adding, “Several are in critical condition, including younger devotees in their thirties and forties.”
The United Kingdom has reported more than 51,000 cases of Covid-19 and has reported over 5,300 deaths due to the virus. Even Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been infected by the virus and was shifted to the intensive care unit Monday, after his symptoms worsened. He was earlier in quarantine at his residence.
(Input from Agencies)
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