Put together low literacy rates, the political ambitions of community leaders, and non-stop fear mongering by the liberal media, and what do you get? A cocktail for a man-made biological disaster.
Even as India hunkers down amidst the coronavirus outbreak, Shaheen Bagh remains defiant — protesters continue to congregate at the site where they’ve now been squatting for over three months, and despite repeated appeals by the government and the medical community, refuse to budge. Even as experts warn that Shaheen Bagh could become a hotbed for coronavirus infections, Shaheen Bagh’s protesters continue its sit-in. Here are some of the most bizarre reasons they give for continuing the protest.
1.This is a call from Allah, we don’t fear the coronavirus:
Even as the coronavirus has now claimed more than 10,000 lives worldwide, a Shaheen Bagh protester said she didn’t fear it. “This is the call from Allah. If the government is so concerned about us, they should first withdraw the law,” a protester told Times Now. We do not fear Coronavirus,” she said.
Watch: TIMES NOW’s Wajihulla speaks to the Shaheen Bagh protesters after they refuse to call off their protest amid the #Coronavirus scare. | #IndiaFightsCoronavirus pic.twitter.com/FFSSSPI6Pk
— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) March 18, 2020
2. Amit Shah got the virus from China to disperse Shaheen Bagh
Another protester said that the virus was the government’s ploy to disperse the many “baghs” around the country. “We started with the NRC, NPR, CAA protests. The virus was initially only in China. How did it come here? Maybe it was a ploy by the government to remove us,” said a protester.
‘”कोरोना वायरस को जान बुझकर चाइना से इंडिया लाया गया है, ताकि CAA प्रोटेस्ट को बंद किया जा सके”‘
And such people are allowed to choose a government !!!!
Seal the area and let them rot.
— Jiggs (@Sootradhar) March 21, 2020
3. The Virus can affect us in our homes too
The entire world is currently practicing social distancing to slow down the spread of the virus, but the message has clearly not reached Shaheen Bagh. “Is it necessary we will get coronavirus if we come to protests? It can happen in our homes also,” said a protester. “”It is an excuse to remove the protests. Either by Amit Shah or by Kejriwal,” said another protester
Their blind hatred is gonna cost us big. Why don’t someone from bollywood from goes there to make them understand the gravity of situation? pic.twitter.com/FWaaLzdMJZ
— Atul Ahuja (@atulahuja_) March 20, 2020
4. We wash our hands 5 times a day for Namaaz, we are safe
Another protester said that because the protesters at Shaheen Bagh were washing their hands five times a day for Namaz, they were safe. “Washing hands regularly is part of our lifestyle. We offer namaz five times a day and we wash our hands every time,” said Rizwana, a protester.
5. “Corona comes from Quran, we aren’t afraid”
Another protester claimed that since the word “corona” came from the “Quran”, the protesters needn’t worry. “There is no corona here at Shaheen Bagh. Corona emerged from the Quran. What is Corona? Deadlier diseases than corona will come. God willing, we will remain unscathed from those diseases. However, it is a matter of concern for them. They should be worried,” an adamant protester said.
Shaheen Bagh ki Shernian are so smart 😭😂😭 pic.twitter.com/FweLPpG0RK
— Political Kida (@PoliticalKida) March 20, 2020
God forbid if even one person gets affected not only by Carina virus but lung infection, all people around will get affected. Their leaders will then run away from the scene.