Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has written a letter to Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, saying all Covid protocols must be strictly followed during the ongoing ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ or it should be postponed.

But the Congress virtually rejected the advisory, accusing the government of selectively picking on the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’. The BJP was also taking out yatras in Karnataka and Rajasthan, it noted and asked if the health minister had sent letters to their organisers’ too.

“Follow the COVID guidelines strictly during Bharat Jodo Yatra which is going on in Rajasthan. Use of masks-sanitizer should be implemented. Only vaccinated people should participate,” the health minister said in the letter written on Tuesday. He also sent a copy of the letter to Rajasthan Chief Minister Mansukh Mandaviya. The march, he said, should be postponed if following the Covid protocol was not possible.

“If following COVID protocol is not possible, then the Bharat Jodo Yatra be postponed in the national interest, taking note of the public health emergency,” the letter stated.

Mandaviya drew the attention of Rahul to a letter addressed to him by three MPs from Rajasthan — P P Chaudhary, Nihal Chand and Devji Patel — flagging their concern over the violation of Covid norms.

Gehlot reacted sharply to Mandaviya’s letter, saying, ”There’s the impact of Bharat Jodo Yatra in the country. I have seen the letter of Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya…they are scared we can see their condition. BJP itself is quite disturbed. A few days ago (BJP President) J P Nadda’s Aakrosh rally failed severely in the state.”

Reacting to Mandaviya’s letter, Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury asked the BJP if the Covid norms were followed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Gujarat Assembly elections.

Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera, who pointed to the lack of restrictions on public transport, also asked the government to announce Covid protocols and said the party would follow them.

“We are wondering why a similar letter was not sent to the president of BJP in Rajasthan Satish Punia who is carrying out a Janakrosh Yatra there. We understand there is not much of a response to that Janakrosh Yatra, there are no people there,” Khera said.

“Why just Rahul Gandhi, why just Congress party, why just Bharat Jodo Yatra? Have they postponed Parliament or is Parliament still in session? If physical Parliament can take place, if the Janakrosh Yatra can take place, if the BJP yatra in Karnataka can take place, if there is no mask compulsory in air travel, why are you picking on Rahul Gandhi and Bharat Jodo Yatra…” “Please announce Covid protocols, we will all follow Covid protocols,” he said.