New Delhi (Sputnik): The death toll from the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) that broke out in Wuhan in December has reached 1,770 in mainland China, with the total number of registered cases surpassing 70,000.

After coming up with a "solution" to treat patients infected by the novel coronavirus with cow urine and dung, head of the Hindu organisation Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha, Swami Chakrapani, an Indian ascetic and political activist has made a bizarre statement by saying that coronavirus has come as an “avatar’ to “teach a lesson” for “torturing animals”.

Swami, who also offered a piece of advice to Chinese president Xi Jinping by saying that he should "create an idol of Corona and seek forgiveness", went on to say that all non-vegetarian Chinese people should make a "pledge of not harming any innocent creatures in the future, then the anger of Corona will fall upon them".

The statement has triggered an onslaught on the ascetic and caused quite a stir online: