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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BJP dreaming to win polls with money power: West Bengal BJP MLA after bypoll loss
Kolkata, Nov 23: As the ruling Trinamool Congress swept the by-elections in six assembly seats in West Bengal, Kurseong's party MLA Bishnu Prasad Sharma attacked the state leadership, saying the party dreams of winning polls with money power and that it sidelines legislators and gives "unnecessary importance and responsibilities" to MPs.
The TMC retained five of the six seats it had previously won during the 2021 polls, while wresting the key Madarihat seat from the saffron camp in north Bengal’s Alipurduar district.
In a Facebook post, Sharma alleged, "The BJP runs a membership drive in West Bengal over the phone from a Kolkata office, while party leaders turn a blind eye to factionalism within the party. The party sidelines MLAs and gives unnecessary importance and responsibilities to MPs. It dreams of winning elections relying on money power. Despite having no shortage of political issues in the state, it centers its politics solely around religion."
"The BJP accuses opponents of corruption while carrying Adani and Ambani on its shoulders. It tries to undermine the rights of the indigenous population by luring Bangladeshi Hindus with promises of CAA. It halts MGNREGA funds and indulges in such tactics, hoping to win elections in the state," he alleged.
On the other hand, the BJP MLA lauded TMC saying, that the ruling party in the state, armed with 26 different "pro-poor schemes" such as Kanyashree Prakalpa, Gitanjali Housing Scheme, Krishak Bandhu Scheme, Nijo Griha Nijo Bhumi, Rupashree Prakalpa, Shishu Sathi Scheme, and Student Credit Card, quietly works at the grassroots level.
"Now, you decide who will win the elections. I have never seen a culture of self-criticism within the BJP; otherwise, this outcome wouldn't have occurred," he added.
Since the 2021 assembly elections, the TMC has won every by-election, except the Sagardighi bypoll in March 2023, which was won by a Congress candidate who later switched to the TMC.
With this victory, TMC's tally in the 294-member state assembly rose to 216, further consolidating its position. The BJP's tally, on the other hand, dropped to 69, from 77 in 2021.
