Ajit Doval intervenes to get Markaz fall in line

National Security Adviser Ajit Doval had been in touch with representatives of the Tablighi Jamaat in Nizamuddin, New Delhi, to convince them to vacate the Markaz premises and get tested for coronavirus, claimed government sources.

More than 2,000 people had attended the religious congregation there.

"The NSA had to intervene as there was a large congregation going on there for several days and after his intervention, the Jamaat leaders also cooperated and vacated the place," the sources said.

Over the years the NSA has established a good rapport with the Muslim leadership and his connections have come handy in the past also while trying to defuse communal tensions.

This was evident during the recent Delhi riots, as well as when tension started brewing up around the time of the Ram temple verdict by the Supreme Court, the sources said.

A huge religious gathering was held at the Markaz building in Nizamuddin between March 13 and 15, and it came into the spotlight after over 24 people who had attended the event tested positive for coronavirus.

Nizamuddin Markaz and the area around it being are being sanitised by a team from the South Delhi Municipal Corporation after the people were brought out earlier on Wednesday.