Starting from March 22-23 the Health Ministry, in its press briefings, indicated ‘Nizamuddin connection’ with new cases of coronavirus. The media picked the ‘indication’ and created almost a tsunami of derogatory phrasing, fake-news and doctored videos in print, electronic and social media, resulting in misleading the people and injecting communal poison in an already polluted atmosphere. Most likely it was a mala-fide tactic to divert the attention from dangers looming large to the life and the economy and to cover up ‘non-preparedness’ of the state to fight the catastrophe.
Meanwhile, reports of communal disturbances started pouring in with the ever-rising graph of virus spread. On the other hand frustration among helpless millions is also growing. People have not only lost the source of income but also hope in the government for promised relief. It is a dangerous indication for maintenance of law and order.
The State Gets Alarmed!
First indication of Government’s awakening came from Bengaluru on April 8 when in a surprising warning, BJP flamboyant Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa said no one should target the Muslim community and the Tablighi Jamaat over the coronavirus crisis. He said, “Nobody should speak a word against Muslims. This is a warning. If anyone blames the entire Muslim community for some isolated incident, I’ll take action against them also without a second thought. I will not allow that to happen.”
Many leaders have welcomed his words. Certainly, if his words get their meaning in action, it will prove game changer and result in resurgence of ‘good-will era’ in the country, damaged by the fascist thought of ‘one nation, one culture, one language’.
Only a day earlier, on April 7, his Political Secretary and party MLA, Renukacharya reportedly said, it is “not wrong to shoot” Tablighi Jamaat members who are “evading” screening for COVID-19. He charged the Jamaat with “anti-national” deeds and “participating, indirectly, in terror activities.”
Surely, he was ‘purposely’ blaming. The State Health Commissioner had announced as early as on April 2: “Nearly 1000 people linked to Tablighi Jamaat had been screened, out of them only 6 have been found symptomatic.” We hope and advise people to come forward without fear if called for testing.
Centre’s Directive
Second indication came the same day when the Union Health Ministry posted an ‘advisory’ on its official website. It said, “Public health emergencies during an outbreak of communicable diseases may cause fear and anxiety leading to prejudices against people and communities, social isolation and stigma.” Such behaviour, it said, “may culminate into increased hostility, chaos and unnecessary social disruptions.”
The advisory emanated at a time when the vilification of the Muslim community was at the peak. Bad statements and misleading stories were floating in the media. Many supporters of the ruling party shamelessly cited the pandemic as “CoronaJihad” and “Markaz Conspiracy” etc. Taunting the members of the community and the Jamaat was swelling. Leaders also ignored party president J P Nadda’s direction (April 2) to refrain from giving any “communal colour” or create any “division or differences” over the COVID-19 outbreak. How party chief’s advice fell on deaf ears, in a ‘disciplined party’, needs an answer.
The directive from the Health Ministry came after UN Resident Coordinator in India, Renata Lok-Dessallien, raised the issue of ‘the stigmatisation of certain sects’ in the 7th meeting of the empowered group coordinating with the private sector, NGOs and international organisations, on April 7. NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant chaired the meeting. There is another question. The directive pertains to internal peace and harmony and is not related to health issues. Why did UHM shy away to issue such directives and without a mention from the UN?
In the deliberation some members stressed upon ‘urgent need to counter all prejudices and rise above as a nation empowered with health literacy that responds fittingly to counter all odds and emergencies. The advisory stressed, “Do not label any community or area for the spread of COVID-19, and not to spread on social media the names, identity or the locality of those affected by the virus or under quarantine. It also urged people to avoid spreading fear and panic. Interestingly the official warning mentions, ‘despite all precautions, if anybody catches the infection, it is not his fault.’
Exposing Fake-news
More positive development is visible in the Police and district administration exposing fake and misleading news and videos targeting the Muslim community especially Tablighis. For example, a leading Hindi news channel, owned by a BJP supported RS Member, on April 6 aired false news on TV, and also on twitter and FB pages, claiming that a medical team escorting coronavirus-positive members of the Tablighi Jamaat was pelted with stones in Firozabad UP. It also claimed that 4 of 11 Tablighis were found ‘coronavirus’ positive. The District Police promptly refuted it and tweeted, “You are spreading false and misleading news when neither a medical team has been pelted with stones in Firozabad district.” The Police directed them to “delete your tweet immediately.” Before the parts of the story were deleted, the report had received 5,500 likes and 1,400 shares on FB.
The same channel reported on April 9, “There are 11 positive cases of coronavirus in Arunachal Pradesh which have connections with the Delhi’s Tablighi Jamaat.” State Directorate of Information and Public Relation immediately clarified, “Arunachal Pradesh has got only 1 COVID-19 positive case till date. The report is false and does not carry any authenticity.”
On April 4 a largely circulated Hindi daily Amar Ujala published fake-news with the heading “Jamaatis admitted in the quarantine ward in Jain College Rampur Maniharan (Saharanpur) demanded for non-veg food, threw the food (they were served), defecate in the open.” The same report was also published in another Hindi daily Patrika and a website channel ‘India1news.com’. The district administration after enquiry found the ‘report to be untrue and completely false.’ The article was shared 4800 times from the FB page. Patrika promptly deleted the report.
Another fake news is related to Dr. Vandna Tiwari, posted in Shivapuri Hospital (MP), contacted Coronavirus. She died of brain haemorrhage on duty. Her picture was used to spread fake news that she was attacked by Tablighi men in Bareilly. Police dismissed the allegation of any such incidence in the city.
In Kareli locality of Prayagraj, a non-Muslim youth was shot dead. It was rumoured that the man was killed by Tablighi men as he was criticising them. Police exposed the falsehood as the case was of a family feud.
Fake reports of alleged misbehaviour with staff at quarantine facilities by Tablighi members also emerged from Bijnor, Agra, Kanpur, Kushinagar, Rampur, Allahabad, and Ghaziabad, etc. The Police and District administration of these places promptly exposed the falsehood of the reports.
As a result a large number of fake posts and videos from Facebook and twitter handles have been deleted. The UP Police have also alerted the media to check the facts with authorities before publishing a report.
In Karnataka, a BJP MP Shobha Karandlaje alleged that Tablighi men were misbehaving and spitting on healthcare workers in the district hospital. The Deputy Commissioner Belagavi District S.B. Bommanahalli promptly refuted the claim of ruling party MP.
We welcome the efforts to contain fake news. But citizens are still awaiting details of Government plans to face the pandemic and its fallout on the economy. How poor people will be comforted. The government will have to do much more to ensure that people get quality treatment without any prejudice.
[The writer is Chairman, Forum for Civil Rights and Duties]