Amidst the coronavirus epidemic, the lockdown has been yet again extended to 17th May. During, this lockdown one thing is for sure, that each and every civilian’s life has been effected some way than the other. Hope we now develop the empathy within ourselves, which is very important during the present state of the country.
What India needed was identification of the hotspots via testing, then lockdown in sensitive zones and treatment of coronavirus patients with extreme care so that the virus doesn’t comes back to him or her yet again.
The government of India basically is projecting that’s its doing a favour to us. It’s giving the narrative that “at least we gave a lockdown, that’s most important, and we have executed the most important thing”.
But I ask, what exactly has the government done? Gabe donations? Increased PPE’S? Increased testing? Provided free ration for non ration holders?
No. Whatever has been done till is done by the states. The government is just taking the credit of it, by endorsing what has happened and completely ignoring the how it has happened, what has happened aspect.
What the government basically did, was just giving declarations. Declarations of lockdowns, and prohibition of non essential activities to take place. This was done just to impose an impression that the government is doing something.
The government neglected its other duties, because it didn’t wish to take the burden of spending time behind health issues. What it wanted was to enjoy this time as a vacation with all the privileges, they are entitled to. No, parliament to face questions, no tension of hearings as courts are closed, elections campaigns paused, election funds being collected via donations, lavish lifestyle, enormous wealth, no worry of essential goods, institutions are anyway in hands, people are sheeps, and the lockdown initiative is taking the course of nationalism.
What more to worry? What more can a fascist government desire to experience, other than this? How can it not afford to enjoy such a marvellous opportunity? Summer is almost there. The government is having a stupendous vacation, with their silicon hearts.
We were fools and are fools, if we expected this government to take strong action with regards to this pandemic.
All it needed for a nation to yet again prove they were idiots and come out on streets and bang thalis was a voice. One voice. The voice of the Prime minister. But, this voice was silent, when Asifa was raped, when India was declared the most unsafe country for women, when lynchings became new normal, when kashmir was destroyed, when intolerance became a default human habit, when students were hostiled, when the court asked them to build a temple in a secular country, when people were treated like untouchables and sent to Detention centres, and most importantly when it’s government didn’t think twice, before executing a pogrom as a response to an election defeat.
Then how do we expect that voice to suddenly ignite in realms of democratic dissent, and listen to experts and take action. How do we expect that man who is planning of reconstructing the parliament in this juncture, to prioritize testing?
Extending the lockdown while taking 0 mitigating measures testifies to this govt’s cluelessness.
On 17 May, our infrastructure is going to be no different than it was on 17 March.
India’s lockdown is as brutal as China’s. Hungry people don’t take kindly to authoritarianism.
By arbitrarily extending the lockdown, this govt is also squandering away the public support that it’s going to need through rest of the year when things WILL get worse.
This is not merely a 2 month battle – and this govt is clearly not thinking about the mid/long-term.
- What is the rationale behind a 2-week extension?
- What is the target? Where do we expect to stand at the end of these 2 weeks?
Modi should know he can’t keep extending the lockdown while merely praying that the virus disappears on its own suddenly.
Life isn’t Whatsapp.
Mr.Modi and his government is basically behaving like the sadhu, pandits maulavis and etc:, who give superstitious remedies in form of wearing karas, Gemstones, performing particular rituals and etc; but, blame the client if they superstitious remedies didn’t work, citing you didn’t have much faith or you didn’t follow my instructions carefully. The government is indirectly asking the public to either thank them if their decisions help in resolving Covid-19 or blame themselves if some problem happens. Like, we have declared a lockdown that’s it. Rest is your responsibility. If you don’t listen to me you will suffer. Stay homes, not because we care, but because we have asked you to. Maintain social distancing again not because we are concerned, but because we wish to restablish an idea of untouchability and social extortion.
The government’s slogan STOP THE SPREAD, is more of a command like scolding someone, to shift the blame via a proverbial straw. Whereas, it should have been a pledge/commitment of unitary nature. But it isn’t.
It is the megalomania of the dictators, and a deeper anxiety in losing raw power, that makes it desire in having the state thanking them for saving lives and their survival. This megalomania must not be confused with empathy and a sense of both moral and legal duty.
Actually, the lockdown could have still be considered, if there’s a partial liftment of it in areas which have progressed. However, there’s a problem here. Since, it’s a nationwide lockdown and hotspots haven’t been previously identified by testing, “progress” can’t be characterized. Areas which might have supposedly progressed might turn out to be one’s with highest number of asymptomatic patients.
The economy is decimated. The rupee is on its knees. Petrol is at an all time high. The stock market has imploded. Twelve Lakh crore in nonperforming assets and the banking system is jammed shut. The informal sector has been decimated as a result of demonetisation and an extremely complex multi layered GST. Millions of small and medium business have been wiped out. In such a situation, when the curfew gets over, the country’s center of attention would be the economy, with a even more compete attitude, because all of our lives, to a certain extent will be effected with an obvious economic strain. The devil will no longer get away by citing scriptures for it’s purpose. But, if it gets then trust me we are in deep tunnel, without any rays of light to be seen.. The fish called constitution is anyway half dead in a drought driven village with only little water left for it to survive, on the other hand. Hungry humans, are also awaiting to have a delicious meal of it, as soon as possible. (metaphor)
India has become the only country where Home Minister disappears in times of trouble and re-appears when MP MLA defects. Amit Shah is still nowhere to be seen.
His silence seriously speaks volumes & symbolizes more autocratic planning going on.
Don’t know what’s more left, for our nation to face. But, more autocratic disasters are coming soon.
The lockdown will be used as a planning period as well besides the execution of pre planned disasters.
Never take fascist’s silence for granted. Silence preaches violence in the mind of fascist.
Devil works in the dark you see. And I am serious about it. I mean am the last person to believe this lockdown is just for coronavirus, fascists never do something without self motive. With democracy already being in the helm of its destruction, the Modi Shah duo is in a intrinsic combination of mutual stupidity and authoritarianism. It’s no secret that Amit Shah is more vicious and cunning than the latter.
In an era of sadomasochistic politics, where institutions have legacy with worms stinking upon it, opposition is sleeping and the media is a herd of cattle, the unexpected and sudden silence of the devil is welcoming more deadly endeavors at the feet of our nation. And the lockdown above all is serving as an advantage.
It’s been 3 months of a new decade, and 6 years of bjp’s governance, most of us are already exhausted, by the repeated reprehensible assault of democracy. The attitude of symbolizing lockdown with a pause button, has the economy and our mental health the worst effected.
Lastly, the emperor walks naked, the pied piper blows the flute, yet the blind men of the nation bow down in front of king, calling him the greatest ever one- eyed man.
That’s how the story of India goes, nurtured by the false notion that, your ignorance is as good as my knowledge. New India has become a place where the pied piper is the new krishna and stupidity is the new nationalism. I wish this storyline someday changes.
Dawn appears after a dark night which sometimes even longer than usual, but the otiose time period, and the departed, can’t and will not be recovered.
Radhika Barman 