Shekhar Gupta and his “librando jamaat” have become active yet again on social media and have begun to target Sikh community to coverup the misdeeds of Tablighi Jamat, who are accused of spreading Chinese virus across India.
Soon after the Sikh devotees brought from Nanded Sahib in Maharashtra to Punjab were found infected with Wuhan virus, Gupta was seen tweeting, saying there is no connection between religion and corona virus.
This is nothing but Gupta’s attempt to dilute the insult heaped on Tabligi Jamaat and Muslims, for spreading the virus.
Interestingly, Gupta has pinned the tweet on his Twitter handle so that the narrative reaches wider audience, fast and quick.
Apart from targeting the Sikhs, Gupta is also engaged in promoting former RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan as the next Manmohan Singh in the making.
He tweeted: “41 among pilgrims who returned to Punjab from the Gurudwara in Nanded have already tested +ve. Reminder that a virus isn’t spread by a specific religion. It is spread, instead, by the practice of congregation common to all faiths. It’s the opposite of social-distancing.”
But, how correct is this comparison between Tablighi jamaat and Sikh community? Wasn’t the responsibility with Maharashtra and Punjab governments to have conducted thorough covid tests on the Sikh pilgrims?
It is highly deplorable that a journalist of Gupta’s stature has stooped to such low level. He is villifying Sikh pilgrims, who tested positive, by comparing them to Tablighi Jamaat, who showed intentional desire to spread the virus.
The Tablighi Jamaatis, unlike Sikhs, hid themselves to avoid detection. They were also found spitting and pelting stones at the health staff, with an evil wish to cause damage to the country.
The Jamaatis were found defecating in the corridor of Narela quarantine centre.
On the other hand, the Sikh pilgrims has obeyed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s instruction to remain inside the Gurudwara, waiting to return to their respective states, only after they got a nod from the central government.
Moreover, Sikh pilgrims have adhered to the enforced guidelines and stayed away from assaulting healthcare officials. They are cooperating with the authorities to check the spread of virus.
By drawing a preposterous analogy between the Sikh pilgrims and Tablighi Jamaat super-spreaders, Gupta and his brigade is not only attempting to shield the Jamaat members from their crass and patently malicious demeanour, but also trying to extenuate their behaviour, even if that means casting smear on the Sikh community.
Rajan is the 21st century Manmohan Singh
The speed at which this brigade change their colors can be an inspiration for chameleons as well. The reason is, the same Raghuram Rajan who was writing on Manmohan Singh’s failure a few years back, is now being promoted by Gupta as 21st century Manmohan Singh.
Few years back, Manmohan Singh was not Gupta’s choice and also had written in The Print, advocating not to give Bharat Ratna to him. Now a question arises. Is Gupta indirectly saying that Manmohan Singh is no more a deserving candidate?
All and said and done, how seriously should the words of Gupta and his gang be taken, who had predicted Narendra Modi’s defeat in 2019 Lok Sabha elections, and next day saying, Modi cannot be defeated for next 30 years.
