简体中文
Author: Prof. Engr. Zamir Ahmed Awan, Sinologist (ex-Diplomat), Editor, Analyst, Non-Resident Fellow of CCG (Center for China and Globalization), National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Islamabad, Pakistan. (E-mail: [email protected]).
Although officially India stands the second worst-hit country by COVID-19, the total number of cases is 27,367,935, and total deaths are 315,263. But people on the ground are reporting much adverse situation and estimates the patients reported officially are under the state-controlled figures, which are much lower than the actual figures. Some experts claimed the real numbers might be up to 30 times more, as the hospitals are full, have no oxygen, and have no place to dispose of dead bodies. The Hindu Holy rivers are full of dead bodies.
PM Modi has imposed restrictions on the release of COVID-19 related data, and violators will be punished sverely, even their properties are being confiscated. PM Modi is scared of public resentment if the masses know the actual situation and may lose his popularity. It can cost him his prime ministership too. On the other hand, India is losing face internationally, facing travel bans. Investors are scared to invest in India, and entrepreneurs are afraid to deal with India. Indian economy faced a big dent and may take several decades to recover. International financial institutions are projecting a gloomy picture and dark future of India in the years to come.
In the early days of the outbreak of COVID-19, President Trupm called it Wuhan Virus, China virus, etc., in rivalery to China, and he was Western Media was promoting such terminologies to bash China and blame China. India was also using similar vocabularies and was blaming China for the outbreak.
But what happened ultimately, the world is using a new terminology as Indian Variant. In fact, the virus is a mutant and kept on changing its genomics from time to time and place to place. There were many variants to date like British Variant, Italian Variant, Iranian Varient, American Varient, etc. However, to date, the worst one is known as the Indian Variant. It has spread to almost 50 countries and proved more contagious and fatal.
With the passage of time, people may forget the other varients and will remember on Indian Variant. Like in history, the commonly known "Spanish Flu" was not of Spanish origin nor limited to Spain only, but people still know it as Spanish Flu.
Since the beginning, China asked to use the Scientific name "COVID-19," and WHO aso used the scientific name only. All other attempts to malign China were failed, and the US and its influenced Western Media also failed utterly. However, the historian might use the Indian Variant in the future.
Above everything, we must regret the loss of human lives in India, and the International community must proactively reach India for humanitarian assistance. If Prime Minister Modi has politicized the Pandemic and mistreated its Minorities, and failed to take appropriate measures, we are human beings, and we care for human lives. For PM Modi, his politics matter, but for us, the human lives matter. Irrespective of race, religion, and ethnicity, we sincerely wish the safety of human lives and extend our full support to curb COVID-19 worldwide.
In fact, COVID-19 is such a big challenge that it might not be easy for any single country to fight against it. Even the superpower the US fas failed to overcome. During the initial days, President Trump has not taken it seriously and was trying to politicize the Pandemic to criticize China, trying to fix responsilbility on China, and ask for compensation. But later on, the Pandemic was so deeply rooted and spread so widely that it got out of control, and the Trump administration failed badly.
MP Modi being a close friend of President Trump also followed him and politicized the Pandemic; his wrong policies, racist approach, and discriminatory practices have worsened the situation. He might save his premiership, but at the very high cost of precious human lives.
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)
