Swami Yatishwaranand, a minister in the hill state of Uttarakhand, is seen wearing a mask on his toe in a photo of a meeting gone viral amid sharp criticism from the opposition. The saffron-robed BJP politician was attending a meeting where all five people present sat maskless in close proximity. Among them, two other Uttarakhand ministers Bishan Singh Chuphal and Subodh Uniyal. The date and the place of the meeting could not be confirmed immediately.

“This is the seriousness of the ruling party’s ministers. And then they punish poor people for not wearing masks,” tweeted Congress spokesperson Garima Dasauni.

Another Congress leader, Pankaj Punia, mocked the minister saying: “Here is the right way to use a mask.”

“Learn from this cabinet minister in Uttarakhand what the right place is for a mask,” wrote a leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Deep Prakash Pant.

The state of Uttarakhand reported a surge in coronavirus cases during the second wave and the government was criticised for mishandling it. Opposition and medical fraternity also slammed the state government for continuing the Kumbh Mela, where lakhs of pilgrims visited amid the surge in COVID cases.

The state on Monday cancelled the Kanwar pilgrimage on account of COVID-19. The annual ritual sees thousands walk or ride to the river Ganga at Haridwar to collect water and bring it back to Shiva temples in their area.

The state is witnessing huge influx of tourists as state government lifted some COVID restrictions. A video of hundreds of maskless people at Mussoorie’s Kempty fall went viral last week, after which the state government imposed the restriction again. People without hotel booking are not allowed to enter the state now.

The state has 1,094 active COVID-19 cases, as per the Union Health Ministry.