Rajasthan BJP MP who advised conch blowing, mud baths to build immunity tests Covid positive

BJP MP Sukhbir Singh Jaunapuria had said that blowing a conch and frolicking in mud, apart from munching on leaves, prevents one from getting infected with the novel coronavirus. 

New Delhi: Rajasthan BJP MP Sukhbir Singh Jaunapuria, who had trotted out prescriptions to build immunity against Covid-19, tested positive for the virus Monday.

Jaunapuria is among 24 MPs who tested positive for coronavirus on the first day of the Parliament’s monsoon session.

In a video posted on Facebook in August, Jaunapuria had claimed that blowing a conch and frolicking in mud, apart from munching on leaves, prevents one from getting infected with the novel coronavirus that causes Covid-19.

In it, the MP from Tonk–Sawai Madhopur constituency can be seen blowing a conch while slathered in mud before he begins eating leaves from different trees and shrubs.

“Go out, get wet in the rain, sit in the dirt, work on the farm, blow a conch … and eat ‘desi’ things. One gains immunity from doing these things,” Jaunapuria said, adding that medicines won’t help increase immunity.

He also said, “Blowing a conch makes our lungs stronger.”

Jaunapuria inspired by Lord Ram 

On 21 June, which is the International Yoga Day, the BJP MP had said that ‘Agni Yoga’ would help in the fight against the pandemic. He even sat in a circle of fire and applied mud on his body claiming it would improve immunity.

Speaking to ThePrint in August, Jaunapuria had said that coronavirus is just like “another flu” that “we shouldn’t fear”, and instead, it should boost immunity.

The BJP MP said that in order to boost immunity, “we have to adopt our ancient practices — walking barefoot and not using the air conditioning”. Jaunapuria had also claimed that he had restricted his use of air conditioning.

He had also said that he lost 25 kgs by “adopting desi practices” in the last four-five months like “chewing leaves” and reduced intake of cooked meals.

Citing the example of Lord Ram, he said, “When Ram was exiled, how did he survive in the forests? In that era, there was no piped gas, and so he ate fruits and leaves in the forest.”

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