If you are a journalist, oped writer, public intellectual and have some platform available to you, and you are not taking on China for dereliction of duty, you are failing the civilized world. Period. Rest is insignificant.
Here is a story that I just heard from primary sources. A lady based in Chennai was visiting her sister in the US. She was going to stay for a while but when #coronavirus scare began she immediately changed her travel arrangements to fly back. This is first week of March.
On her way back to Chennai, her first port of entry in India was in New Delhi. At Delhi Airport, her temperature check was done and she was screened and all details collected. After getting a green signal at Delhi Airport she was allowed to proceed to Chennai
In Chennai, she was screened again and allowed to go home where she was put under home quarantine for 28 days. Her house was sealed to ensure no one visits her. Everyday in quarantine she received a WhatsApp from local Chennai Authorities to enquire how she was doing.
She lives alone and therefore one day she needed help with moving her gas cylinder. She informed her local authorities and concerned personnel promptly cane suitable protected with masks and gloves and helped her. This is the level of screening and supervision happening
If you cannot see this and even at this time of crisis are writing stories about India’s slums who cannot afford social distancing then you are the lowest of low lives. Do you not see lockdown and social distancing is enforced to protect these people in slums?
India’s poverty cannot vanish in 6 years. At this moment of crisis, what the Govts can do is protect them. If state Govts fail, point you then. But overall, GoI has taken all steps to protect everyone and stop the infection from spreading.
Social distancing is impossible to implement in New York City too. That is why NYC is getting hit the way it is. Poor everywhere from NYC to New Delhi are getting hit hard. This is how China by abdicating it’s Dutt has destroyed us all. But you don’t write about China at all.
In the US, there is still no screening at airports, 3.3 million people have filed for unemployment. People are suffering everywhere. In any crisis poor suffer the most. GoI has come up with Stimulus package and hopefully no one will go hungry and everyone will have shelter.
To use your bully pulpit to bash the government for poverty that has existed for 70 years is abusing your privilege. Shame on you. There are ways to raise alarms so that Govt can react. Becoming a Chinese stooge is not one of them.
