Don’t look at blatant violation of Covid norms with coloured eyes

April 14, 2021

New Delhi: The way massive political and religious gatherings have been allowed by the administration in the midst of the second wave of corona virus and the way media has looked the other way as compared to its reaction to the Tablighi Jamat gathering of last year has exposed the blatant bias in their dealing with different communities.

With 1,35,27,717 total corona cases and 1,68,912 cases being added in the last 24 hours, the second wave of corona is an extremely serious threat today.

The question is should persons violating the code enforced by the state be treated equally as in any other secular state or the religion of the concerned violaters be of any consequence.

After the gathering of Tablighi Jamat, the transnational Sunni Islamic missionary in Delhi last year from all over India and abroad, the participant, who came from all over India and abroad, were dubbed as “super spreaders”.

There is no denying the fact that the gathering should not have taken place at that time when the country was in the grip of Covid 19 crisis.

But on a hindsight was our reaction as a nation very sound because wherever they went in the country we as a people hounded them out and we blamed them to be responsible for spreading Covid 19.

Number of police cases were filed against members of the Tablighi Jamaat under the IPC, the Epidemic Diseases Act, the Disaster Management Act, with courts later quashing many and acquitting them. The court at that time also made scathing observations against media propaganda too.

Even terms as ‘Corona Jihad’ were invented for actions of the jamaatis.

However gatherings for religious festivals of different religious groups in the country throughout the year have taken place besides large gatherings due to elections , but we as a people do not seem to be so concerned about whether they have strictly followed Covid 19 guidelines and what kind of police action has been taken. Is it similar to the action taken against members of Tablighi Jamaat ? If not why not ?

Another interesting point would be to see how the mainstream media has reacted to all kinds of Covid 19 violations ?

The “do gaz ki doori, mask hai zaroori” kind of slogans made by the Prime Minister himself should not turn into a mere statements.

In innumerable political rallies being addressed by the Prime Minister and Home Minister one is seeing a blatant violation of this basic rule of protecting oneself and others by wearing a mask and maintaining safe distance.

Crowds are just milling about in political rallies, road shows, and their political leaders seem to be equally oblivious of whether Covid 19 protocols are being followed or not. There obvious and only interest naturally is larger and larger gatherings . The roadshows winding through narrow lanes packed with people without wearing any mask or maintaining any distance seems particularly galling when one spots a smiling and waving leader , who may belong to any party.

How have such huge gatherings been allowed ? What testing norms are being followed to see whether anyone is suffering from Covid 19 or is an aymptomatic carrier of Covid 19 virus ?

The deadly presence of the virus which has mutated into more severe and virulent varieties is very much there and medical fraternity has been exhorting everyone not to lower one’s guard.

In view of the second wave of Covid 19, health experts had appealed for the Kumbh Mela festival to be cancelled, but the government went ahead saying safety rules would be followed.

But it was terrifying to look at millions of people gathered en-masse at the holy Ganges to take a dip almost jampacked together in a way that even simple body movement is difficult.

To hold the police responsible for ensuring Covid appropriate behavior, particularly in such a place, when millions of people gather for a highly emotive and sensitive religious festival is neither practical nor possible.

The government had earlier said that only people with Covid negative reports would be allowed at the festival and strict measures like social distancing would be followed. But how far it is actually implemented is anyone’s guess.

No wonder senior officials clarified upfront that maintaining social distancing will not be possible at the ghats or river banks.

IG Police in charge of Kumbh Mela police force, Sanjay Gunjiyal is reported to have said “We are continuously appealing to people to follow Covid-appropriate behaviour. But due to the huge crowd, it is practically not possible to issue challans”

He said that a “stampede-like situation” could arise if the police tried to enforce social distancing on the river banks.

With such large gathering taking place, the fears of Covid 19 to spread faster throughout the country is a very grave possibility.

While night curfews continuing and lockdown becoming imminent at many places and shortage of beds becoming a cause for concern it becomes necessary to take all possible measures so that the spread of Covid 19 is stopped.
–INDIA NEWS STREAM