Listen to the President

President Ram Nath Kovind is absolutely right when on Saturday he appealed to the people of the country to follow discipline and maintain physical distance to protect themselves from Covid-19. The President's call comes at a time when a section of people have chosen to disrespect all the norms set by the government to prevent further spread of the virus. The number of people testing positive has been skyrocketing in the country primarily because of this section of irresponsible people. Guwahati, or for that matter Assam is the best example of how a section of people has been putting the entire community at risk by their grossly irresponsible behaviour. The way some people came out for shopping on the two days preceding the current lockdown in Guwahati, and the way these people refused to wear a mask and maintain social distance – gave clear indication that the scenario will deteriorate. And that exactly has happened. Sunday afternoon the Health Minister stated that as many as 777 persons tested positive in the city in 24 hours. At Juria in Nagaon district on the other hand several thousand people gathered on Friday without masks and social distancing to attend the funeral of a certain religious leader. Some MLAs and a Member of Parliament were also seen amid the crowd; and none of them even for once were seen using their influence and wisdom to ask the people – who probably constitute someone's vote-bank – to wear masks and maintain social distancing. Strangely, the district administration remained a helpless silent spectator as thousands of people put themselves at risk of contracting the Covid-19 virus. The elected representatives who were seen amid the thousands of people will be the first to blame the government if tomorrow a large number of people test positive. The Juria gathering appeared to be not much different from what had happened in the Tablighi Jamaat at Nizamuddin in the national capital in March. Similarly, the state president of the BJP too had displayed irresponsible behaviour by holding a press conference after health workers had collected his swab for Covid-19 test last week. It is not a mere coincidence that President Ramnath Kovind said on Saturday that India was in the midst of a virulent pandemic that has overwhelmed the entire humanity. It is in the backdrop of such irresponsible behaviour of a section of people – which includes elected representatives like MLAs and MPs, irrespective of whether one belongs to the Opposition or the ruling party – that President Kovind had to say pray that it "the lamp of wisdom" lights up the heart of everyone in this hour of global crisis for the human race.