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By Syed Baquar Ali
Hyderabad April 21 (Newslines): India need to fight concurrently with the pandemic Covid-19 and the politics of hate and bigotry which is destroying the very secular fabric of the country. On containing, treating and cure of the Novel Corona virus Covid-19 the health Ministries and the Police Department at both the Central and the State Governments are doing whatever is in their reach right from implementation of the Lockdown to initiating dedicated hospitals for the cure of the patients infected from the Covid-19. Creating of quarantine facilities to isolate those infected and monitor the suspected patients who came into contact with the Covid-19 infected person and making sure that strict lockdown is implemented to contain the community spread of the covid-19.
On the other hand the spread of Covid-19 all over the country, anti-Muslim sentiment is being fumed through a media narrative by few pernicious TV channels demonizing the Tablighi Jamaat for its meeting which took place at Nizamuddin Markaz mosque in New Delhi as solely responsible for the spread of Corona virus Covid-19 in the country. This has given rise to violent majoritarian vigilantism operating under the cover of Anti-Corona campaign.
These vigilantes encouraged by the Right-wing Hindutwa parties and Organizations are creating havoc in the cities and villages across the country by singling out Muslims. Huge Number of cases has been reported of Muslim Vegetable and Fruit Vendors not being allowed to sell their products on the streets, lanes and colonies and are being termed as Tablighi’s who are waging “Corono Jihad and spreading Corona visrus” a narration which has been coined by few toxic media Channels and their Anchors. Retailers are refusing to sell their products as soon as they come to know that the customer belong to the Muslim community and they are not even being allowed to enter the shops.
Similarly in a bizarre incident a hospital in Utter Pradesh put up Advertisement in the local Newspapers that it would admit Muslim patients only after Covid-19 screening. A BJP MLA from Karnataka has asked the banks and other institutions in his constituency to allocate a separate day and time for Muslims. To add spice Jokers like Swamy Om who participated in the Big Boss are spreading hate with their vicious social media post against the Muslims and Tablighi Jammat, which has gone viral. Tweeter post of Babita Phogat, acclaimed westler and Tejasvi Surya BJP MP from Karnataka has brought shame and strong reactions against India and destroyed the image of India in various countries across the globe.
In the last four address to the Nation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the Janta curfew, clapping and drumming thalis to encourage the health workers and security personnel, closing of lights and lighting the candles and the fourth one was regarding the extension of the Lockdown period. But in none this addresses the PM bothered to advise the citizens not to communalize the spread of Corona virus Covid-19 which was going on since the initial stages of the Lockdown. The screams and pleas by the secular National Media, Intellectuals, NGO’s and political parties to stop the communalisation of the Spread of Pandemic Corona virus Covid-19 fell on deaf ears.
Even the Home Ministry under Amit Shah ignored the communal alarming bells and did nothing to curb the hate on social media. It was only after initial reports of strong anger brewing among the Gulf States regarding the Islamophobia of Covid-19 and harassment of Muslims, a sublime tweet came from the Prime Minister in which he said that “Covid-19 does not see Race, Religion, Colour, Caste, Creed, Language or Borders before striking. Our response and conduct thereafter should attach primacy to unity and brotherhood. We are in this together.” It did not warn or directed the authorities to take stringent action against those who are spreading hatred and communalising the spread of Corona virus Covid-19 in the country.
In the absence of any strong message and action from the Prime Minister, Home Minister or the even the Foreign Minster or their respective Ministries to curb the Islamophobia of Corona Virus Covid -19 spread in India and Anti-Muslim sentiments, the Ambassador to United Arab Emirates (UAE) Pavan Kapoor took the initiative to Tweet on Monday that “India and UAE share the value of Non-Discrimination on any grounds. Discrimination is against our moral fabric and the Rule of Law. Indian Nationals in the UAE should always remember this” to stem the growing resentment in the Arab World. Why is the National leadership not taking appropriate steps to contain the Communalization of Pandemic Covid-19 which is tarnishing the Image of India and the fate of Indians who are losing their Jobs, being jailed or even getting deported for forwarding or posting Islamophobic post on the various platforms of social media in the Gulf Nation’s.
Already India was facing highest percentage of unemployment since its Independence and the Pandemic of Noble Corona virus Covid-19 which took the whole world into its grip resulting in Lockdown across the Globe brought the economy to a grinding halt thus forcing the strategist and economist to find ways to put the economies on track. The additional burden of arrival of deported workers will amplify the woes of the already hampered job market in India surging the unemployment ratio and will diminish the much needed flow in foreign reserves. (Newslines)
