COVID-19 impact on New Year Celebrations in Jaipur: Parties, firecrackers to be ‘banned’

Jaipur: Keeping in view the possibility of people ignoring COVID-19 guidelines including social distancing, the Rajasthan government is gearing up to implement Supreme Court directives in this regard strictly.  Sources said that there will be a ban on gathering, parties and bursting fire crackers. The Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot in a Tweet on Monday said that the people should celebrate the New Year with their family members and stay indoors. He said that the government will strictly implement COVID-19 guidelines.

Several COVID-19 measures including Section 144 of CrPC banning gathering of five or more people, night curfew and a cap on gatherings in weddings are already in place. The bars and liquor shops are closed by 7 pm in several districts including Jaipur as part of the night curfew directives.

A meeting presided over by chief minister Ashok Gehlot was held at the CM’s residence on Monday to review the COVID-19 situation and to discuss preparations for the vaccine drive in Rajasthan, particularly Jaipur.

“The COVID-19 measures that we had implemented for Diwali will be implemented for the New Year celebrations. We will ensure adherence to social distancing and other COVID-19 guidelines very strictly,” said Gehlot.

He said that the people of the state should celebrate the New Year with their family members and avoid crowdy places. The people should refrain from bursting firecrackers.

“We will very strictly implement all the SC directives received by all the states in the country,” said Gehlot.