Why we shouldn’t compare Tablighi congregation and Kumbh Mela?
The coronavirus is back in the news all over the country. The common man is anxious and confused. While politicians are conducting major election rallies, people have been prevented from earning wages for their food. Nobody seems to have a problem with election rallies during the day. But if people venture out in their cars or bikes after 10 pm, they are stopped and tortured. At the same time, the government is relaxing the regulations for the Maha Kumbh Mela.
The government that has been warning about the imposition of the lockdown in the country is at the same time allowing a huge congregation of people in the name of Kumbh Mela. The media that had branded the Tablighi convention as the ‘Coronavirus convention’ is now silent about the Kumbh Mela. If Kumbh Mela were to be compared to the movie, Bahubali, the Tablighi convention can be regarded as a five-minute short film. “The Tablighi convention took place when there was no adequate information and awareness about the Coronavirus while Kumbhamela is taking place when all of us are aware about the impact of the coronavirus”, a popular Bollywood director tweeted. And his words are nothing wrong. When the Tablighi convention was organized, the organizers did not have any information about the Coronavirus. And the government had not issued any order or guidelines about the coronavirus.
We could have condemned the Tablighi convention if it was organized by flouting any guidelines or orders. In the absence of any such violations, several cases were registered against the organizers of the convention. Similarly, the media spread rumours about the workers. By spreading lies such as about the Tablighis spitting on doctors, the media tried hard to prove that the Coronavirus spread because of this.
But finally, the courts dropped all charges against the organizers and took the media to task for spreading rumours vilifying the Tablighis. As against these, the Kumbh Mela is a clearer case. Most importantly, the Tablighi convention was not a public mela. The number of people who have gathered at the Kumbhamela is much larger than those who participated in the Tablighi convention. The fact that an indirect lockdown has been imposed in several cities including Mumbai due to the Coronavirus and at the same time the government has itself gathered crores of people in Uttarakhand has confused people. It has made people view the government’s decisions with suspicion.
If the Coronavirus does not spread when crores of people gather in Kumbh Mela, how does it spread in buses or trains? Kumbh Mela is in no way indispensable for people and people have not demanded that Kumbh Mela be organized at any cost.
Despite this, if the government is keen to gather crores of people, why should people suffer due to the curfew imposed by the government? Ironically, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Rawat has said that the Tablighi convention should not be compared to the Kumbh Mela. There is a truth in his saying. The Tablighi convention does not compare to the disaster of Kumbh Mela. Rawat has issued a hollow defense about the Kumbh Mela saying ‘the Tablighi convention took place indoors while the Kumbh Mela is taking place on the banks of a river.”
If it is true that the Coronavirus spreads only in rooms and not in public places, why was lockdown imposed for three months in public places and why were people confined within four walls? Why are the police attacking those who wander on the streets late in the night? The greatest tragedy is his statement that “Goddess Ganga will save devotees from the coronavirus.” The Central government has spent thousands of crores of rupees to protect Goddess Ganga. She has become completely maligned unable to carry the weight of the sins of her devotees.
Experts have already submitted a report that the water of Ganga is not fit for consumption. The water of Ganga has become poisonous either due to the dirt thrown by devotees or the effluents discharged from factories. Even though efforts are being made to cleanse the Ganga, the government has not succeeded in its efforts. It is not about the Ganga rescuing devotees; the Ganga should be rescued from the devotees. In fact, it is possible that the Ganga might curse devotees for abusing it during the Kumbhamela. For Haj yatra that happens at the international level, the government there imposed severe restrictions. Although it is generally very well-organized with stringent regulations, it was not allowed when the virus was on the rampage. Strict regulations have been imposed for Ramzan Umra as well.
The government took these decisions as it was concerning the people. Here, in India, by imposing lockdown and night curfew for the working class, the Indian government has made the Coronavirus a joke. All chief ministers are repeatedly issuing statements that people should comply with regulations. But people have started questioning why they should not participate in daily activities when crores of people can gather in a mela. People have lost confidence regarding the orders of the government. It is only because of the inconsistencies of the government that the spread of Coronavirus is increasing by the day. The government should take complete responsibility for this. The duality in the decisions of the government about the coronavirus, lockdown, curfew, and safe distancing is why the country has reached this stage. The government that has still not learnt its lessons is continuing its dual policies and is taking the country on the path of destruction.
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London, Nov 22: A bomb disposal squad deployed as a “precaution” to the South Terminal of Gatwick Airport concluded an investigation into a "security incident" on Friday after making a “suspect package” safe.
The South Terminal of Gatwick Airport, the UK's second busiest airport after Heathrow, which was briefly shut owing to the incident reopened following the incident.
The Gatwick is around 45 km south of London.
Two people detained during the enquiries have since been allowed to continue their journey as the airport was opened.
“Police have concluded their investigation into a report of a suspect package at Gatwick Airport. Officers from the EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team made the package safe, and the airport has been handed back to its operator,” Sussex Police said in an updated statement.
“Two people detained while enquiries were ongoing have subsequently been allowed to continue their journeys. There will remain an increased police presence in the area to assist with passengers accessing the South Terminal for onward travel,” the statement added.
Earlier on Friday, the incident caused severe disruption at the busy airport’s South Terminal, while the North Terminal of Gatwick Airport remained unaffected.
“Police were called to the South Terminal at Gatwick Airport at 8.20 am on Friday (November 22) following the discovery of a suspected prohibited item in luggage,” a Sussex Police statement said.
“To ensure the safety of the public, staff and other airport users, a security cordon has been put in place whilst the matter is dealt with. As a precaution, an EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team is being deployed to the airport. This is causing significant disruption and some roads around the South Terminal have been closed. We’d advise the public to avoid the area where possible,” it said.
Footage on social media taken outside the airport showed crowds of frustrated travellers being moved away from the terminal building.
Gatwick said it was working hard to resolve the issue.
“A large part of the South Terminal has been evacuated as a precaution while we continue to investigate a security incident," the airport said in a social media post.
“Passengers will not be able to enter the South Terminal while this is ongoing. The safety and security of our passengers and staff remain our top priority. We are working hard to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.”
Train and bus services that serve the airport were also impacted while the police carried out their inquiries.
In an unrelated incident in south London on Friday morning, the US Embassy area in Nine Elms by the River Thames was the scene of a controlled explosion by Scotland Yard dealing with what they believe may have been a “hoax device”.
“We can confirm the 'loud bang' reported in the area a short time ago was a controlled explosion carried out by officers,” the Metropolitan Police said in a post on X.
“Initial indications are that the item was a hoax device. An investigation will now follow. Some cordons will remain in place for the time being but the majority of the police response will now be stood down,” it added.
