The social distancing message created a negative attitude in the minds of the people. Now they maintain a mental social distance from the Central and State Governments, as if the Government is a separate entity apart from us. We have all forgotten the golden saying that “PEOPLE GET THE GOVERNMENT THEY DESERVE.” When governments worldwide repeatedly appeal to keep social distance, many people do not follow it. In democratic countries like India, where the opposition has an important role to play as a watchdog, they struggle to engage in meaningful politics and instead make indirect negative comments in positive ways.
The worst scenario involves some anchors on a few TV channels. They begin to question the actions of the government, demanding explanations and even reporting statistics in the name of TRANSPARENCY—as if they possess some constitutional authority to do so. They forget that having a license to broadcast and run a TV channel, and serving as the fourth pillar of democracy, does not grant them the right to demand everything from the government. The government, particularly the Chief Minister, other ministers, and government officials, are working round the clock to tackle the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and do not have the time to address petty politics played by certain media houses and TV channels. Those who participate in panel discussions, not understanding their social responsibility, ask numerous foolish questions in the name of their democratic rights. They forget that even democracy has its limitations, and the government is not obligated to disclose all measures taken to curb the spread of the coronavirus. The opposition parties, as usual, refuse to accept their equal role in democracy, playing the devil’s advocate and adding fuel to the fire.
For example, the opposition party leader in Tamil Nadu demands the government convene an All-Party Meeting immediately to discuss the pandemic and how to address it. If the government cannot arrange a physical meeting, at least a virtual conference should be organized. Any sensible citizen can easily see that he is trying to politicize the situation and gain political advantage with such statements. If we allow the governments—both central and state—to do their jobs and remain quiet while cooperating with them, we, as THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, can collectively overcome this pandemic.
Another prime example is the migration of thousands of people from Delhi to UP based on false rumors circulating on social media. Who spread such messages, and why are opposition parties playing politics even in such emergencies? Who arranged buses for them to reach the UP border? Even one opposition ex-party president appealed to his party workers to provide food and water for those walking back to their homes in their villages from various parts of the country. Foolish advice!
WE ARE REQUESTED TO STAY WHERE WE ARE AND NOT TO MOVE. Why couldn’t the same party workers arrange for the accommodation of those migrant workers for three weeks and provide food for them? In a country like India, where we care for animals and plants, shouldn’t we also care for those poor people? Many are already feeding stray dogs and animals. How much more can they do for fellow human beings? Many are actively feeding the poor and needy. Every state government is doing its best to arrange various facilities for the people. In a vast country like India, with more than 1.3 billion people, some errors may occur. But this is not the time for politics. They forget that they, as representatives—even if they lost the election—are also part of the government and political system and should cooperate with the government rather than indirectly spreading rumors and messages to play politics during such a crisis. Aside from facing political consequences in the future, they may also pay a heavy price by spreading the virus to innocent people who do not want to engage in politics during this emergency.
WE ALL, AS INDIANS, SHOULD NOT FORGET THAT WE ARE THE GOVERNMENT, AND WE THE PEOPLE OF INDIA HAVE A MORAL, SOCIAL, ETHICAL, SPIRITUAL, AND DHARMIC RESPONSIBILITY TO COOPERATE WITH THE GOVERNMENT. THIS IS A TIME OF COLLECTIVE ORDEAL FOR ALL OF US, AND WE CANNOT SIT IN THE GALLERY TO WATCH ONLY THE PRESENT GOVERNMENT GO THROUGH IT AS IF WE HAVE NO PART IN IT. THERE IS NO OTHER OPTION FOR US—EITHER TO SAIL TOGETHER OR TO SINK TOGETHER.
COOPERATE WITH THE GOVERNMENT. IF NOT, AT LEAST DO NOT GIVE TROUBLE TO THEM BY BECOMING AN EASY VICTIM OF THE PETTY POLITICS PLAYED INDIRECTLY BY THE OPPOSITION PARTIES.
STAY AT HOME, SAVE YOUR NEAR AND DEAR ONES—INCLUDING YOUR NEIGHBORS AND FELLOW INDIANS. DO NOT CREATE ANOTHER ITALY, SPAIN, OR USA IN INDIA.
Two to three weeks are not a long time in life. Suppose you meet with an accident and are hospitalized for treatment, forced to remain in bed for a few weeks or months to recover—what can you do? You have no option but to stay both in the hospital and at home until you recover, with the help and cooperation of not only your family members but also many others, like doctors, nurses, friends, neighbors, and even the government. What you ought to do as an individual now, we all must do collectively, as this is an accident that has happened to the entire world.
Mathigiri
29-03-2020
The social distancing message created a negative attitude in the minds of the people. Now they maintain a mental social distance from the Central and State Governments, as if the Government is a separate entity apart from us. We have all forgotten the golden saying that “PEOPLE GET THE GOVERNMENT THEY DESERVE.” When governments worldwide repeatedly appeal to keep social distance, many people do not follow it. In democratic countries like India, where the opposition has an important role to play as a watchdog, they struggle to engage in meaningful politics and instead make indirect negative comments in positive ways.
The worst scenario involves some anchors on a few TV channels. They begin to question the actions of the government, demanding explanations and even reporting statistics in the name of TRANSPARENCY—as if they possess some constitutional authority to do so. They forget that having a license to broadcast and run a TV channel, and serving as the fourth pillar of democracy, does not grant them the right to demand everything from the government. The government, particularly the Chief Minister, other ministers, and government officials, are working round the clock to tackle the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and do not have the time to address petty politics played by certain media houses and TV channels. Those who participate in panel discussions, not understanding their social responsibility, ask numerous foolish questions in the name of their democratic rights. They forget that even democracy has its limitations, and the government is not obligated to disclose all measures taken to curb the spread of the coronavirus. The opposition parties, as usual, refuse to accept their equal role in democracy, playing the devil’s advocate and adding fuel to the fire.
For example, the opposition party leader in Tamil Nadu demands the government convene an All-Party Meeting immediately to discuss the pandemic and how to address it. If the government cannot arrange a physical meeting, at least a virtual conference should be organized. Any sensible citizen can easily see that he is trying to politicize the situation and gain political advantage with such statements. If we allow the governments—both central and state—to do their jobs and remain quiet while cooperating with them, we, as THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, can collectively overcome this pandemic.
Another prime example is the migration of thousands of people from Delhi to UP based on false rumors circulating on social media. Who spread such messages, and why are opposition parties playing politics even in such emergencies? Who arranged buses for them to reach the UP border? Even one opposition ex-party president appealed to his party workers to provide food and water for those walking back to their homes in their villages from various parts of the country. Foolish advice!
WE ARE REQUESTED TO STAY WHERE WE ARE AND NOT TO MOVE. Why couldn’t the same party workers arrange for the accommodation of those migrant workers for three weeks and provide food for them? In a country like India, where we care for animals and plants, shouldn’t we also care for those poor people? Many are already feeding stray dogs and animals. How much more can they do for fellow human beings? Many are actively feeding the poor and needy. Every state government is doing its best to arrange various facilities for the people. In a vast country like India, with more than 1.3 billion people, some errors may occur. But this is not the time for politics. They forget that they, as representatives—even if they lost the election—are also part of the government and political system and should cooperate with the government rather than indirectly spreading rumors and messages to play politics during such a crisis. Aside from facing political consequences in the future, they may also pay a heavy price by spreading the virus to innocent people who do not want to engage in politics during this emergency.
WE ALL, AS INDIANS, SHOULD NOT FORGET THAT WE ARE THE GOVERNMENT, AND WE THE PEOPLE OF INDIA HAVE A MORAL, SOCIAL, ETHICAL, SPIRITUAL, AND DHARMIC RESPONSIBILITY TO COOPERATE WITH THE GOVERNMENT. THIS IS A TIME OF COLLECTIVE ORDEAL FOR ALL OF US, AND WE CANNOT SIT IN THE GALLERY TO WATCH ONLY THE PRESENT GOVERNMENT GO THROUGH IT AS IF WE HAVE NO PART IN IT. THERE IS NO OTHER OPTION FOR US—EITHER TO SAIL TOGETHER OR TO SINK TOGETHER.
COOPERATE WITH THE GOVERNMENT. IF NOT, AT LEAST DO NOT GIVE TROUBLE TO THEM BY BECOMING AN EASY VICTIM OF THE PETTY POLITICS PLAYED INDIRECTLY BY THE OPPOSITION PARTIES.
STAY AT HOME, SAVE YOUR NEAR AND DEAR ONES—INCLUDING YOUR NEIGHBORS AND FELLOW INDIANS. DO NOT CREATE ANOTHER ITALY, SPAIN, OR USA IN INDIA.
Two to three weeks are not a long time in life. Suppose you meet with an accident and are hospitalized for treatment, forced to remain in bed for a few weeks or months to recover—what can you do? You have no option but to stay both in the hospital and at home until you recover, with the help and cooperation of not only your family members but also many others, like doctors, nurses, friends, neighbors, and even the government. What you ought to do as an individual now, we all must do collectively, as this is an accident that has happened to the entire world.
Mathigiri
29-03-2020
Leave a Reply