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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Bihar: Over 150 children fall ill after consuming 'mid-day meal' in Saharsa
Saharsa (PTI): More than 150 children were taken ill after allegedly consuming food that was part of the mid-day meal in a school in Bihar’s Saharsa district, a senior official said on Thursday.
The incident occurred at a middle school in Baluaha village of the district.
The official said that 115 children were undergoing treatment at the Sadar Hospital, while around 50 students were admitted to Mahishi Public Health Centre.
“We received information that several children fell ill after consuming the mid-day meal in Baluaha. The children were initially treated at the primary health centre, but later, many were referred to the Sadar Hospital,” Saharsa District Magistrate Deepesh Kumar told reporters.
“According to doctors, the health condition of the children has improved, but they will be kept under observation for some time. There is no need to panic. Some kids are having mild fever. They are being treated accordingly,” Kumar said.
Meanwhile, family members of some children claimed that a snake was found in the container in which cooked pulses was stored at the school.
Of the 545 students present in the school, 200 had already eaten their meals by the time the snake was spotted, and later complained of stomach ache and vomiting, they said.
Regarding the claims, the DM said food samples have been collected from the school.
“We will be able to comment on this only after the results of the tested samples arrive,” he said.
