The Jharkhand BJP has decided to postpone its organisational programmes, mostly agitations, for the next one month to prevent the spread of coronavirus at a time when the party had planned to start protests across the state to pressure the Assembly Speaker to notify Babulal Marandi as leader of Opposition.

The party had also decided to start an agitation against policies of the Hemant Soren government after the Assembly budget session concludes on March 29.

Now, the party has decided to engage its workers and leaders to create awareness among people on the precautions needed to be taken against the deadly virus.

“The decision was taken during a meeting of the central parliamentary board of the party and national president J.P. Nadda instructed us on this. There will be no agitation for the next month since such agitations are joined by a large number of people. We will use this time to create awareness among people,” said BJP state president Deepak Prakash.

Ranchi SDO Lokesh Mishra said: “Many either withdrew request or we denied permission for mass gathering on safety grounds because we can’t compromise with public health.”