August 13, 2020: Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra trust chairperson Mahant Nritya Gopaldas has tested positive for COVID-19.

Reportedly,  he had shared stage with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several other VIPs - during the groundbreaking ceremony of Ram Temple’s Bhoomi Pujan” at Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh last week.

Mahant Nritya Gopal Das was among the five people on the stage at the grand ceremony.

The others on the stage were Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Governor Anandiben Patel and Mohan Bhagwat, chief of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the BJP's ideological mentor.

Days before the ceremony, a priest, Pradeep Das, and 14 policemen on duty in the Ram Janambhoomi complex had also tested positive for coronavirus.

A statement from the Chief Minister's office said that CM Yogi Aditynath enquired about the health status of Nritya Gopal Das and has also spoken to Mathura district magistrate and followers of the mahant. According to sources, the CM has asked Dr Trehan of Medanta Hospital to look at medical requirements of Nritya Gopal Das.