Why an Islamic gathering in Delhi has taken centre stage in India’s coronavirus debate

Organisers say hundreds were stranded at Nizamuddin West event after a lockdown was suddenly declared — but some are now blaming event for spreading coronavirus across country

Muslim visitors leaving the Nizamuddin Markaz walk towards a bus that will take them to a quarantine facility on Tuesday (AP)

Police in Delhi have issued preliminary charges against a Muslim preacher for organising an event at a mosque in the capital that has been directly linked to a number of coronavirus cases across the country.

Around 1,750 people are believed to have attended the training course organised by Islamic missionary organisation Tablighi Jamaat, including more than 200 foreign nationals and visitors from many Indian states.

The event took place on Saturday 21 March, two days before Delhi was formally placed under lockdown measures but some 36 hours after Narendra Modi first addressed the nation comparing the fight against coronavirus to a world war, urging people to observe social distancing and “stay away from crowds and gatherings”.