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Gujarat MLA Jignesh Mevani tests COVID-19 positive

Mevani tweeted he was stable at the moment and was recovering in isolation

51-Jignesh-Mevani Jignesh Mevani | Janak Patel

Jignesh Mevani, the independent MLA representing Vadgam in the Gujarat Assembly, announced on Friday morning that he had tested positive for COVID-19.

Mevani tweeted he was stable at the moment and was recovering in isolation. Mevani tweeted, "I have tested positive for #COVID19. My health is stable for now and I am recovering in isolation. I request everyone who came in my contact to get themselves tested. And my humble request to you to wear your masks, stay home as much as possible and maintain social distance."

Mevani also expressed gratitude "to the medical staff, the doctors and other frontliners who are doing an unbelievable job in this time, risking their own lives, losing their sleep and mental peace..."

Mevani had come into prominence in 2016 following an assault on dalits in Una. By organising protests over the Una incident, Mevani became, arguably, the modern face of dalit assertion in Gujarat.

Mevani, a lawyer, contested the 2017 Assembly polls as an independent candidate with support from the Congress and won. Mevani has also been an outspoken critic of the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Gujarat on Thursday recorded its highest-ever spike in COVID-19 cases, reporting 8,152 cases and 81 deaths. Gujarat's total COVID-19 tally was 3,75,768 cases as of Friday morning, while 5,076 fatalities have been reported.

The number of active cases now stands at 44,298, of which, 267 are on ventilator.

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