Jugalbandi of Rumors with Social Concerns

During the crisis of COVID-19, people are staying safely in their homes, adhering to lockdown rules. In this period, several incidents have occurred across different parts of the country in the past month. Among them, three major events have been particularly concerning. One was related to the Tablighi Jamaat congregation in Delhi, which led to a significant increase in the number of COVID-19 cases and affected those who came in contact with them. Another event occurred suddenly at Bandra Station, where a large gathering of people who had come out of their homes for labor and work were stranded, eager to return home. The third incident, if we consider, was an event in Palghar, Maharashtra, where a crowd of sadhus was beaten to death. Undoubtedly, these three incidents became a part of nationwide debates. However, upon closer examination of these incidents, a common thread emerges - the spread of rumors. The country, when in dire circumstances, not only struggles in terms of health facilities but also falls behind Western countries in terms of awareness. We are still in the testing phase for COVID-19. Until testing is widespread, the full picture won't emerge. Despite this, our honorable Prime Minister has engaged with the public at various times to boost morale and deliver his message. However, it seems that in this country, there is such a scarcity of common sense that even the educated class has not refrained from presenting various unscientific arguments on social media, using the sounds of clapping and the science of lighting lamps to propose different pseudo-scientific explanations for defeating the coronavirus. These attempts at humor have not spared Prime Minister Modi's positive efforts, even among intellectuals. During these incidents, not only social media but also news channels that claim to broadcast news 24 hours on TV and promise to bring the truth to light have not hesitated to contribute to this ritual of spreading rumors and sensationalism. While the first incident revealed a severe lack of awareness, the second exposed the vulnerability and unemployment of the labor class. The third incident showcased the extreme level of inhumanity. In all three incidents, news anchors, with great enthusiasm, accused a specific minority community of being involved in them, without any evidence. In the subsequent incidents, despite confirming the non-involvement of any particular minority community, no apology was offered, nor was any remorse shown for their reporting. A spokesperson from a news channel even went so far as to accuse Sonia Gandhi, the leader of the Congress Party, of being involved in the incident, which is being widely condemned. The support that Indian news channels and social media are receiving is giving rise to instability. Without a doubt, whether it is the Tablighi Jamaat incident or the Palghar lynching, action should be taken against the guilty, and justice must prevail. For this, both the police administration and the judiciary are fulfilling their responsibilities diligently, and this will continue in the future as well. After the Tablighi Jamaat incident, a wave of such rumors also spread, prompting the UP Police to appeal on an official Twitter handle of a particular news channel to refrain from disseminating such news. As the fourth pillar of democracy, this is a concerning topic for the media. In my village, due to the lockdown, a Hindu individual's death led to discussions at the local level about the last rites being performed by a neighboring Muslim family, including all rituals, and a 6-year-old Muslim boy lighting the funeral pyre. Similarly, among the police, administration, doctors, and sanitation workers, there are hundreds of thousands of Corona warriors who come from minority communities and continuously risk their lives to fulfill their duties towards the country and society during this crisis. The truth is that India does not just exist within the confines of a television news studio; what is shown there should reflect the truth. To curb the aggressive role of news channels in India, not only do the central and state governments need to take immediate and stern steps, but the audience also needs to exercise patience and restraint in the face of any such divisive news. Otherwise, just like the gruesome genocide that occurred due to a radio broadcast in Rwanda, this great ancient civilization and culture of the country might be tarnished in the times to come. (This text reflects the personal views of Dr. Prashant.)