Modi, Shah, Kejriwal to skip Holi celebrations

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and other top BJP leaders will skip the Holi celebrations in view of the coronavirus outbreak even as Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also announced not to celebrate Holi and cited incidents of communal violence in the national capital among the reasons.

Later, President Ram Nath Kovind's office also tweeted that the Rashtrapati Bhavan will not hold the traditional Holi gatherings as a precautionary measure as with "alertness and safeguards, we all can help contain the outbreak of COVID-19".

Announcing his decision to not celeberate Holi, Modi tweeted,"experts across the world have advised to reduce mass gatherings to avoid the spread of COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus. Hence, this year I have decided not to participate in any Holi Milan programme."
Responding to a question at a press conference, Kejriwal said, "I am not celebrating Holi due to both reasons (violence and coronavirus). In violence, several people were killed in Delhi...There are families which are in distress due to these riots. I am not celebrating Holi. Our ministers and MLAs will also not celebrate Holi this year."
Later, a Delhi BJP statement said the party MLAs will also not attend Holi gathering as they "endorsed the decision of Prime Minister Modi, Home Minister Shah and party president Nadda."
He further tweeted that, "the coronavirus is infectious, therefore, protection is more important than treatment."It is my appeal to all the people of the state to refrain from attending social functions and take good care of themselves and their families with full responsibility."