Prime minister of makes an emotional speech to ask people of India to stay home on a Sunday. He asks them to do it for the country and do it for him (because, you know, he has always gotten whatever he has asked for). So far so good 1/n
In the same emotional speech, he copies the Italian model of people expressing solidarity with doctors & health care workers. The difference? Well, in this case, it is happening because of the urging of a great leader. He reminds everyone that this is a sign of patriotism. 2/n
Well, you know what? Of course, people want to show their patriotism. The great leader asked them to stand in their balconies and bang plates & utensils to orchestrate a thumping tribute. Unfortunately, not everyone has balconies. Plus, people want to show their patriotism. 3/n
To prove to their dear leader that they are patriotic & they support him, they did not just stand in balconies. They came out on the streets in the form of large processions to show their love for the leader & patriotism for their motherland. They chanted #GoCoronaCoronaGo 4/n
So, women came out in what @Akib_2 refers to as "thaali yatra". They love their leader and would love to show their committment to fighting #Coronavirus -- by rallying together and chant Corona away! 5/n
#IndiaFightsCorona
#IndiaFightsCorona
.@TabeenahAnjum reports: They rallied in the backdrop of iconic #Hawamahal and chanted slogans #CoronaBhagao
#IndiaFightsCorona
#IndiaFightsCorona
#Covidiots, says, @sneheshphilip.
But, as @Profdilipmandal says is, it should be referred to as the Gujarat Model of #IndiaFightsCoronavirus: "Make speeches, create a frenzy, and make blind followers lose sight of what is at stake."
#CoronaVirus #India
But, as @Profdilipmandal says is, it should be referred to as the Gujarat Model of #IndiaFightsCoronavirus: "Make speeches, create a frenzy, and make blind followers lose sight of what is at stake."
#CoronaVirus #India
And, of course, gems like this one shared by @PoMoGandhi are circulating at breathtaking speed in all kinds of WhatsApp groups. #IndiaFightsCorona 
As @Akhucha and @ProfSrilaRoy said, we Indians are also among the most racist people, a trait that surfaces in times of crisis. #IndiaFightsCorona scroll.in/article/956919…
Authoritarian leaders are good at creating frenzy; they can create a sense of fear (or not) depending on whether it serves their ulterior goals. Someone said (please tag,if you know) that one wishes that people feared Coronavirus as much as many pretend to fear Muslisms. #Empathy
We must start a conversation on universal empathy, which is the only sanitizer that will erode what @BAPSA_JNU refers to as the "epidemic of Indian racism". We can pull through this only with a combination of 'physical distancing' and 'social solidarity'.
None of this is only about the socially & politically marginalized groups/regions. Hate & bigotry undermines every conceivable institution. It threatens independent media. #IndiaFightsCorona #India | Scribes returning home assaulted by police thehindu.com/news/cities/Hy… @the_hindu
