Social distancing went for a toss on Thursday after hundreds of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supporters thronged Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Ranchi to celebrate former Bihar chief minister Lalu Prasad's 73rd birthday who is serving a jail sentence there on account of his failing health. Supporters of the RJD chief also cut a 73-pound cake to mark their leader's birthday and distributed it among “poor and downtrodden” people, party leaders said. On Thursday, hundreds of people formed a beeline outside RIMS to enjoy the special treat from Lalu on his birthday. State labour minister Satyanand Bhokta, who is the only RJD legislator in Jharkhand, claimed that all social distancing norms were followed during the celebrations at RIMS. However, the hundreds of RJD supporters, who gathered, outside RIMS seemed to care less about social distancing.

Source: The Telegraph June 11, 2020 11:48 UTC