'No Corona': Union minister Ramdas Athawale coins slogan for new COVID-19 strain

Pune: Union minister Ramdas Athawale, whose 'Go Corona, Go' chant became a national sensation, on Sunday came out with a new slogan, 'No Corona', saying it was in response to the new strain of the novel coronavirus .

"I gave the 'Go Corona Go' slogan and the virus is now going. But it also came near me, leading to my hospitalisation (after testing COVID-19 positive). I thought coronavirus would not reach me but it can reach anywhere," Athawale said.

"For the new coronavirus strain, I would say 'No Corona, No Corona' as we don't want either the old coronavirus or the new strain to infect us," he told reporters in Pune.

Athawale was discharged from a private hospital in Mumbai last month, 10 days after testing coronavirus positive. In February, a video of Athawale, along with a Chinese diplomat and Buddhist monks chanting "Go corona, go corona" at a prayer meeting went viral on social media.

The video was reportedly shot on 20 February during a prayer session to stop the spread of coronavirus in China.

Athawale (60) is a member of the Rajya Sabha and Minister of State for Social Justice in the Narendra Modi-led government.

"I will be meeting BJP president JP Nadda to discuss a possible alliance for West Bengal Assembly elections," he said. "We expect (BJP to set aside for us) around 10 seats," he added.