Communalisation of COVID-19: Kuwait sacks one Indian, another under investigation
After UAE took punitive action against two Indians for blaming Muslims for coronavirus, another Gulf country Kuwait has now cracked the whip on two Indians, who had shared similar communal hatred posts on social media. One such Indian was Kundan Kumar from Pupri in Bihar, who was working at Burger King in Kuwait.
In one of his Facebook posts, Kumar had written, “Jamaati Corona Bomb has left in search of Jannat at several places. We have to be careful. These idiots will get 72 virgins, but we will get deaths.” Kundan was repeating the Islamophobic narrative peddled by Indian TV channels, who blamed the Islamic religious sect for the spread of COVID-19.
Hello @burgerkingkw
— Woke Muslims ? (@WokeMuslims) April 11, 2020
Kundan Pandey who claims to be your employee believes that Muslims are on a mission to spread #coronavirus. He is targeting religion, Please take stern action for spreading Islamophobia and vilifying Muslims. @kuna_en @kuwaitpolice3 @MOInformation FYI. pic.twitter.com/461tm5MYek
Several social media users demanded strict action against him by bringing the issue to the attention of Burger King in Kuwait, Kumar’s employer.
تنويه هام على ما تم تداوله في وسائل التواصل الاجتماعي . pic.twitter.com/B0NZVTRmn5
— برجر كنج® الكويت (@burgerkingkw) April 11, 2020
Burger King Kuwait later released an official statement confirming the sacking of Kumar from the job. The statement in Arabic reads, “In reference to what’s been circulated on social media platforms about one of our staff in one of our branches inciting hatred and racism, we confirm and condemn this individual’s behaviour.”
In another incident, a professor of Indian origin is set to lose his job for his anti-Muslim post on the Facebook. Authorities in Kuwait have initiated an investigation against Nandakumaran Moorkath, a professor at Kuwait University. Kuwaiti MP Nayef Almrdas confirmed the development on Twitter and said that the insult to ‘our religion’ will not be tolerated.
Wasim was called dismissed him
— عبدالرحمن النصار (@alnassar_kw) April 11, 2020
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Explosion in Molakera village: Minister Eshwara Khandre inquiries about health of injured
Bidar: District In-charge Minister Eshwara Khandre visited the injured in the mysterious explosion that took place in Molakera village of Humnabad taluk and are currently undergoing treatment at the district hospital. The minister visited the hospital this morning and enquired about the health condition of the injured.
Speaking to reporters after the hospital visit, Khandre described the incident as deeply painful and unfortunate. “Yesterday’s explosion in Molakera village is extremely tragic. Four children sustained burn injuries, while two adults were seriously injured. One of them has been shifted to Solapur and the other to Hyderabad for advanced medical treatment,” he said.
He assured that all the injured are receiving proper medical care and that the district administration is closely monitoring their condition. “Doctors have been instructed to provide the best possible treatment to the injured,” the minister said.
Khandre said that a thorough investigation is underway to determine the cause of the explosion and identify those responsible. “The government has taken this incident very seriously. I met the Chief Minister yesterday and briefed him on the facts of the incident,” he said.
He further announced that the government will bear the entire cost of medical treatment for all the injured. “Strict legal action will be taken against whoever is found responsible after the investigation,” he assured, while appealing to the villagers not to panic
