COVID 19 has proved the vulnerability of humans before viruses, be it generated on their own, or engineered in laboratories. The infected have crossed 1.13 million and the dead over 60 thousand. We must wait and see on the claim of 236000 recovered, if there is a relapse, the damage to their vital organs or their immunity, which will be known only in the next weeks or even months.
Be that as it may, India began its lockdown before many countries and well ahead in time to contain the spread of the virus. Indians overwhelmingly participated in the one day ‘Janata curfew,’ and the 21-day-long lockdown, which started the next day, 24th March. We are through 11 days of the drill today. What was thought as well under control measures, were defeated by many religious meets. Some meets were already underway at the time of the lockdown announcement, or some others which continued to defy the government diktats later. India has 3082 cases with 86 deaths, but then there are very few screenings too.
We had time, a couple of weeks in reprieve. Still, we wasted the days without preparations for the PPEs, gloves, masks, sanitizers, hospital isolation wards and beds and whatnot. The Centre must have had a national dialogue with all the CMs, most who did not realise the seriousness of the virus impact.
None can claim that the steep increase in cases was due to the spread of the dispersed Tablighi Jamaat members. There was also a Rang Panchami in Nashik, where thousands gathered in the name of God. Most crowded temples like Tirupati or Jagannath continued to attract devotees and rightfully waited for the Government orders for the banning of crowds. Devotees beat up police in many places of worship during their traditional Friday Namaz.
I steer clear from the foreigners present in TJ assembly, which is a law and order issue. However, I am appalled over the quick justification of such religious meetings, which are hotspots for the virus spread. The advisories for the attendees for the COVID test resulted in the scampering of the Jamaatis. They fled to many corners of India, the infected spreading it wherever they went.
If a few rightwing goes overboard calling them fanatics, it is equally condemnable of a few jobless opposition and Muslim leaders justifying the Tablighi event and playing yet again the persecution of minorities song. Spread in 17 states in India are directly attributed to fleeing Tablighi members. Those brought back for hospitalization have misbehaved with the medics, spitting on them and disdainfully breaking the hospital rules.
People hiding in mosques for fear of quarantine or the martyrdom for those dying, or it is only the almighty who can take away any life and only a time determined by him are laughable in a world of science. The death-meter is running faster than ever, and religious leaders must warn their followers of a parallel hell, as they have all been sold a place in heaven for flouting every rule of law.
If defeating the government’s initiatives is considered as a victory any brand of religion, there can be no scope for India and its future. I denounce the disgraceful act of the group in the spread of the virus.
Sampath Kumar
Intrépide Voix
