As I write this, India is recording over 2 lakh Covid cases and over 1000 deaths daily. After setting their trolls on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for offering sensible advice, the BJP has finally taken a few tips, like allowing international vaccines in—this will take a few months, sadly. Of course, the media makes it sound like it was Nationalist Nero’s idea, or else they won’t get government ads and the Income Tax chaps may pop in for intense midnight chats.
The BJP’s very own ideas to fight the virus are downright ridiculous. Every senior in the party including Nationalist Nero, the Union Health Minister and Niti Aayog’s Dr VK Paul has recommended ayurvedic remedies like turmeric lattes and chyawanprash. Oddly enough when their own people like RSS chief Bhagwat and UP CM Adityanath tested positive, they were rushed into hospitals as “precautionary measures” although they only had mild symptoms. These are not reassuring ads for chyawanprash. Also, it makes desperate people who cannot get hospital beds for seriously ill family members weep.
As always, the BJP is fighting perceptions instead of the virus. An example: Countless funeral fires at a Lucknow crematorium drew gasps on social media and people questioned the number of reported deaths. The morning after, UP authorities blocked the view with metal sheets and pinned a notice that said unauthorised people were no longer allowed to enter the crematorium since it was a “COVID-19 affected area”. Trespassers were also warned of strict action. Moral: If you don’t know the truth, you will be happier with the BJP.
Finally, Mother Teresa has been overshadowed by a new saint—a BJP supporter at that, yay! While Bhakts are bragging about Saint Billionairebhai’s generosity, activist Saket Gokhale has brought them back to earth with a thud. I quote him below: