The virus is washing through our bodies, killing thousands, crushing our modest health system, causing crippling shortages of doctors, nurses, medicines, even oxygen. If last week we said this is the Narendra Modi government’s biggest crisis, it’s only become bigger since. It threatens to grow bigger over the next several weeks.
Growing alongside the crisis will be a call for unity, and clamour like, “this isn’t the time for a blame-game”. In this big, great national crisis, we should all shut up, and put our shoulder to the wheel. But in a democracy, politics doesn’t stop, nor does political analysis and questioning.
We know most of the things a strongman leader in a democracy, from Donald Trump to Jair Bolsonaro, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Benjamin Netanyahu to Narendra Modi, invariably does. They all speak to the base, and as long as the base is happy, they keep winning. Or win often enough.
There are also things a strongman leader never does. He never, for example, admits failure, a setback, anything that looks like a defeat, however small, or that he has erred. You must never seem to blink.
The base adores him precisely because it thinks he is infallible. It doesn’t expect him to say, ‘sorry friends, I got this one wrong’. That would be admitting that you are another human being, not a divine figure or an avatar. That’s why everything you begin, must end in a victory and be hailed as a ‘master-stroke’.
Earlier this week, the prime minister made some uncharacteristic changes in direction. Not once, but at least thrice. His short televised address to the nation was sombre, and devoid of the characteristic claims, promises and exhortations.
Second, that the buzz made by a short letter from Dr Manmohan Singh had rattled the government was evident not in the health minister’s combatively worded reply. That would be normal. But in the fact that the very next day, the government more or less announced everything Singh was suggesting on vaccinations. That is not the response of a strongman government.
And third, PM Modi cancelled the last leg of his campaign in West Bengal. That he waited till the last day means he was still hoping to be able to do it, but realised he was behind the curve on the pandemic.
Modi’s followers would be hoping this setback is momentary. That headlines would change in about a week when West Bengal results come. If the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) merely crosses the figure of 100, it will be called a big win. After all, it started with 3. And if it wins a majority, it will be all the adjectives we listed above. But, whatever the BJP’s election performance, it will be overshadowed by the Covid situation.
There are many things the best of scientists still do not know about this virus. But some we know. The virus doesn’t vote. Nor does it care about who wins or loses. It can’t be polarised. It spreads sickness, misery and death, irrespective of politics or faith. It feeds on political hubris. It made the people of the United States, Brazil, and until recently the United Kingdom, pay the price for the overconfidence of their leaders. Now it’s threatening to do just that in India. The three instances of change we listed show that Narendra Modi has realised this as well.
Also read: There’s a need to hold up a mirror to Modi govt on Covid management, and this is the picture
Since words like hubris and schadenfreude are tossed around casually these days, it is necessary for us to marshal some evidence. I am sharing here the full English translation of the prime minister’s address to the World Economic Forum, Davos, in January.
There is as clear a declaration and celebration of victory against the virus as you could imagine. When the pandemic began, the world was so concerned about India, that a tsunami of infections was going to hit us, Modi said. There were people predicting 700-800 million Indians getting infected and more than two million dying. But India didn’t let this happen and saved humanity from a big disaster, he said.
He talked about how India had built capacities in no time, the world’s biggest vaccination programme has been launched on the back of two ‘Made in India’ vaccines with many more to come, and how India is now out to save the world by exporting these.
Next exhibit, see here, the resolution passed by the BJP National Executive in February. It was a stirring declaration of victory against the virus. “It can be said with pride,” it read, that “India not only defeated Covid under the able, sensible, committed and visionary leadership of Prime Minister Modi, but also infused in all its citizens the confidence to build an Atma Nirbhar Bharat”. The resolution was so effusive, it’s a surprise it stopped short of asking that a victory arch be built. We quote again: “The party unequivocally hails its leadership for introducing India to the world as a proud and victorious nation in the fight against Covid.”
It said “the world has applauded” India’s achievement, and then also praises the “appeal for activities like clapping and clanging of thalis, lighting of diyas, showering of flowers over hospitals”. India, it said, stands tall, especially with its “vaccine victory” and moving in the “direction of complete triumph over Covid”.
Now you might say one, Davos, was just a speech to a forum where every leader grandstands and the other a party resolution, so what would you expect? Somebody might even pull out some AICC resolution more effusive than this, maybe under “Indira is India” by D.K. Barooah. That might’ve been a great debating point on a prime time news show. But the virus doesn’t read, hear, or care. It only waits in ambush for you to turn complacent.
Also read: A bacteria made Indians political. A virus will now extract a political price from Modi
It was around late-mid February that infections began to creep up. The first rise was in Kerala, Punjab and Maharashtra, three opposition-run states. Maharashtra, in particular, given the Hindutva Divided Family blood feud with the Shiv Sena. Curses and abuses were thrown at the state government, central teams were sent and when Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said he wanted more vaccinations, he was scoffed at. Meanwhile, we also heard about a ‘Harvard study’ that apparently hailed the performance of the Yogi Adityanath government against Covid in Uttar Pradesh.
But why would a virus that doesn’t recognise national borders confine itself to some states? As it grew elsewhere, the BJP had a problem. Having just celebrated a grand victory against the virus, how could it now backtrack?
Nobody, not even Narendra Modi, could have stopped the second wave, especially with new variants emerging faster than conspiracy theories do on social media these days. But if we weren’t caught in such celebrations, we might have seen it coming and prepared better. Every indicator was there.
That complacency shows in our pedestrian vaccine programme that carried on serendipitously, taking weekend breaks, holidays on Shivratri, Good Friday, Holi and more. Full scale Kumbh Mela was allowed, advanced by a year for astrological reasons. The prime minister addressed a rally in West Bengal last Saturday so big that he said he hadn’t seen one such before. That was also the day Manmohan Singh’s letter arrived.
The course correction has been on since then. But tens of thousands, if not more, Indians would die and many of these lives could have been saved if we had vaccinated at a better pace, placed orders in time, not run short of oxygen, and critical drugs. Maybe then we would have prevented this global embarrassment of the crush at our crematoria and graveyards. Or India wouldn’t be airlifting oxygen generators from Germany, looking to import vaccines and indeed suspending its own exports against committed orders. While talking of atmanirbharta.
You can’t claim vindication in the mass death and misery of your compatriots. But these questions must not be brushed under the carpet of warm ashes piling up at our crematoria. This almighty second wave has just begun, the virus has a head-start. Our government looks like a hare frozen in the headlights. Unless Modi has it in him to do a Boris Johnson in second innings: Vaccinate at supersonic pace to crush the pandemic. We’d prefer a chance to applaud that to any malevolent sense of schadenfreude.
Also read: PM Modi’s speech was short – on answers that Indians demand of him during second Covid wave
People are dying mercilessley, One of the Worst Government ever in History, The present Government is a super curse to the Nation….! Buggers have billions why can’t they spend on People’s health….! Shame
It is not failure it is criminal negligene
Who took off the #mask , gave up #SocialDistancing , said ‘No’ to #vaccine even when eligible, gathered to party recklessly, thought crowds were a good idea?
Looking after more than a billion people would be a lot easier and doable if people were responsible in their behaviour.
If you blame any government or political leaders you are a shameless idiot.
Also, why there is no article or media coverage on leaders of states reporting maximum cases ? And if everything has to be blamed on Center and they responsible for all goods and bass, then better sack all state governments and give all the control to center.
This different is equally responsible for spread of covid.
Wow superb.
Exactly….why to blame the Government for everything? Aren’t citizens responsible for wearing masks and maintaining social Distancing?
All congress news portal are ready blaming the modi, they were quite successful in making the masses convice to live freely with out taking any precautions even no need of vaccines. Today they are happy to see the situation out of order.
One sided attack on Center as if States themselves have no responsibilities. This article, again, has an agenda. Had it not been so, Kejriwal, Uddhav, Amrinder Singh etc would not have been spared.
This is all bullshit. He’s modi, not vaccine that can save from virus. If the shitty, illiterate people of this nation are not going to do their part, there’s nothing government can do.
India is facing this problem because of insensible people who are not ready to listen to anything. I know many people, who after getting confirmed for covid, are roaming out this and spreading the virus saying that the report is false, I’m alright. What else do you expect?
And please, ask your writer to writer properly in easy to understand words. Please ask them to learn to write better articles. It should be easy to understand for everyone. Why use such complex work when you can write in simple English?
Don’t mistake your love for the country with blind admiration of its leaders. Our prime minister and the government are custodians of this great nation that belong to us all. Don’t mistake them to be the nation themselves and defend all their actions. If the actions they took are good, we all should celebrate it. But if they are bad and we know many have been bad over the last few months, and we STILL choose to defend the government, then the only losers are the nation and its citizens!
Their ability to write in this level of English shows their education level. Your inability to comprehend it shows yours. Maybe there’s a correlation between their high academic achievement and being critical of Modi, with your failure to do so and being supportive of Modi? Some food for thought.
Let the state govts perform maximum this year to save their states. Central govt has given 100%freedom.
Last year everyone blamed only central govt for lockdown.
Again some people are trying to blame central govt.See Maharatra and Delhi.
Blame game not right answer now.All of us are under one UMBRELLA.
Let state govts show performance like CM Odisha.
Forget differences and help all govt functionaries.
You are so wrong. About everything. Sorry Babu.
and you are wrong about everything Ajay,
Unilateral criticism about Modi.I am not saying he is perfect.ln fact no political party in our country deserve perfect policy makers.But what about the common sense ofour citizens.They are equally responsible for spread ing the covid virus for(not all people) for not obeying Covid rules.Development of a country depends,if not wholly,upon Their civic sense also.
GOI never thought of making world class hospital, (WCH) at state capital level, District Level & Taluka Level in the country. GOI will never build such WCH, because there no earning from hospitals, because government charge lesser fees or no fees from BPL etc. GOI rather invest in bullet trains, stadiums, Unity status etc, because GOI want to earn from every common people. GOI never focused on building mega PSU’s that should be income generator for government, but now some PSU are also being sold. So finally what remains is Taxing people, earning through such unity statue etc.. Half of population in is uneducated and they even dont know what should be there demand and whom to ask for demand. So one day GOI will rule like East India Company.
Reflects my thoughts.
Uneducated comment. Google how many AIIMS this Government has commissioned and you will know. Besides, you are asking this Government to do magic in 7 years when it could not be done in 70.
Thank you Print for this wonderful article . I wish young journalists of today also add words of positivity .. Bad news sells so it was s in print !
But Sir, your schadenfreude is palpable.
Further, your dislike for majority, poor, marginalized and disenfranchised as BASE, is deplorable.
This article definitely Heart the donation people of india and PM of our country
Please do not divide the country by printing this Type of article
How is the Modi govt. facing up to the Covid disaster ?
CM of Utarrakhand said that rishis lived in Vedic times without oxygen.
Go mutra and Covid papad is offered as a cure.
In the first Modi govt., some minister in UP said cows exhale oxygen. Then why the shortage ? Why import oxygen separators from Germany ?
I advise Shekhar Gupta that although the immediate issue is oxygen and vaccine, the deeper problem is more than Modi, it is the Hindutva ideology thrust on us by RSS and which has seduced many Hindus and made them brain dead even without Covid. The Hindutva mind does not deal with Covid as a public health issue, like in other countries, At the outset, Covid was used as an opportunity for attacking one section of society, the Muslims. The above anti-scientific statements by the BJP’s ministers also stems from that ideology only. The Hindutva ideology is such that professional, competent people cannot work with it, be they economists or health care experts. The Hindutva ideology brings to the fore uneducated types like Modi and Shah, and requires sycophants who along.
Normally, people are the same, but if you have an ideology that wants to drive you backwards, the results will be like the present day India. Modi and the BJP are to blame; so too are the people as they went along with it. The BJP reflects what many think and go along with.
You need to stand up and say the Hindutva ideology is ultimately the cause for India’s downfall. The downfall was bound to come sooner or later, but of course we could not have predicted that it would come this way.
Absolutely correct! A govt fueled by religious or ideology will always be full of uneducated buffoons that finally have their chance to put the educated people in their place. Gaumutra, banging of vessels, dip in holy water, making decisions based on astrology. India is doomed if this gawar party continues.
Okay milords we will convert to islam and be brown sepoys like you.As per latest scientist research it has been found if you become liberal atheist or marxist it boosts iq and if you convert to islam it gives you scientific temper and boosts immunity against covid.Thank you so much for opening my eyes otherwise i would have remained a gullible fool and now with this new perspective i will also become an eminent intellectual like you may be not as much as you but somewhere near you.
It is shame on how the media blames the state or central government’s for all the crisis.
Media in india never played a constructive role.They Don’t educate the publicregarding safety measures.The public fight back any measure ,they think isencroaching on their tight.( Wearing ,mask ,face shield,not to gather,pubs should openand gathering atmarriage functions ,political convassing and meetings.)
The media is only interested in judging the government’s basing on the media’ssponsor.
Besides they request funds to support the media for the judgements they pass .But people are more knowledgeble .
It’s not just Hindutva, it’s every religion. If you are pointing out hindutva and Kumbh mela this time then you need to know the disaster created by other religions during 2020.
This is all due to shit called as secularism. When you treat a person as a human being first, then only you would be able to love that person or work together for the progress of the country.
Instead of abusing a person or the Govt., Let’s think about democracy, which says that we are the one who rules the country and so it’s our responsibility to be safe first.
People are not responsible enough to save themselves from Covid and they are not even ready for vacation and finally they end up doing a blame game on the country and Govt.,
When illusion under the guise of religion takes over a soul, that blind wretch is forever doomed, to kill or be killed.
– Rabindranath Tagore –
Appreciate your thoughts
You have strucked right cord
As I recall, even the critics of Mr. Modi said that we have licked Covid-19. ( I recall and article “Modi is right: Government deserves no credit for bringing Covid under control in India” by Mr. Shivam Vij. Only, they were not willing to give any credit to
Modi. Now, they would like us to believe that they warned us about the second wave. Most of India believed we have licked covid and there will be no second wave as seen by its behaviour in celebrating religious festivals, gala birthday parties and what not. Mr. Modi did say that we have to follow precautions, but people followed recommendations from Whatsapp Univerisities. Opening up was good for the economy and the poorest of the poor. The jobs were back and the immigrants came back. But, the virus sneaked up on us. I think Mr. Modi, like rest of us, woke up very late. Even the oppostion leaders campaigned in the electionsj and conducted road shows until very recently. But Mr. Modi is a pragamatic politician and will adapt. Remember how he implemented Adhaar, something he opposed when he was in the oppostion, when he came to power when he realised that it could be useful for his direct benefit transfer schemes. He is not bound by any ideology as journalists, including Mr . Shekar Gupta, has pointed out.
Shekhar Gupta, a measure of how correct your analysis is, simply count the number of people hurling abuse at you in the comments section.
It is far fewer than the number of people dying in India.
The Print is a mean spirited, small minded, anti-national, rabble rousing little mouth piece of the Congress. They are enjoying the crisis and people’s distress; they want the nation to suffer.
shekhar sir,
we can blame the government for everything but isn’t it funny that the supreme court has to tell the citizens of india to wear seat belts, helmets and follow traffic rules as our lives are precious. same ways the government has to tell us to wear masks, do social distancing and follow covid protocols. when last year lockdown was done we saved lives but economy suffered, this time we are trying to keep everything open thinking that citizens will be responsible and here we are, blaming everyone but not ourselves. all the critics have always been the critics so they will only criticise the government but what have they done for the present crisis, if opposition thinks they are better why have state after state failed its a collective failure in which citizens are more responsible then the government. they allowed kumbh but did govt forced everyone to attend? elections are held so its up to you to attend rallies, and only one party did rallies not the other and will virus hit one set off person which you have rightly pointed out.
not fair sir to blame others, we are ourselves to blame for taking this pandemic lightly knowing how this country works.
Let the haters keep hating…..hate and bile is all they have left. Irrelevent and inconsequential Congress-China funded media.
Criticism of either Modi or Opposition will not make coronavirus go away. Only staying focused on enforcement of Covid appropriate behaviour, vaccination and executing rigorously on saving precious lives will.
This is a good time for Indians to start understanding science rather than place blind faith in religion. The common man should have a scientific temper and rational mindset. Pray to the Gods now, believe in your religious festivals, books and myths – but none of it matters to Nature. Only hard lessons from the Covid pandemic will make Indians understand the limited utility of blind faith in forging a happy and healthy nation.
I found it interesting that while you mentioned weekend breaks, Shivaratri, kumbh mela etc. you did not mention farmer’s protests and tableeghi jamaat .. would have appreciated your article if you had mentioned these too..ommision of these just reinforced my belief that you are just a pimp of the gandus ..if you had written a similar article at a time the farmer’s protest started it would have been great ..
Mr.balaji, ur cuss words reflects your mindset.
As the disaster of Demonetisation unfolded – the Indian economy has never recovered fully from that kick in the teeth – there should have been a profound reflection / introspection in the highest reaches of government. My God, how could we have done something like this, how can we insulate decision making from such monumental blunders in future. Instead, the same provincial mandarin who oversaw it went on, a few months later, to roll out a shoddy GST. Placing the economy firmly on course to sink like a stricken submarine. So what the column describes is a logical outcome / culmination of a consciously chosen / adopted governance model. With so many institutions / sources of critical evaluation dulled or blunted, the political juggernaut could have continued to roll on, ignoring job losses, stunted children, even a dust up at the border. As the crematoria labour on into the night, whether these macabre images of a nation plunged in darkness and grief will lead to meaningful change is not for me to judge.
But every line of your hate & tirade against the government is full of judgment.
Dear Ashok,
You still do not understand why demo done by Modi govt. for that i will get you back to start of event happening in our country.
Our growth story started in from 2003, there was growth world over during this time period between 2002/03 to 2008/09 (our economist PM at that time did not do anything to boost this growth to +10% ( he may be reluctant to do anything in a coalition govt, and allow rampant corruption) during this period and up to 2010/11 illogical loans given by the banks, some under the instruction of central govt, during this period he started politics of unconsciously chosen farm loan waiver (that was followed by many others afterwards) these so many things done by printing money without controlling fiscal deficit, because of this you noticed high inflation (+10%) during that period. By the time this govt started their first innings they came to know real scenario of country’s balance sheet, you always need bank credit facility work smoothly, that was not the case because of high NPA problems which was created and accumulated during earlier govt. tenure.
At the same time NDA gave growth in initial year due to positive expectation from new govt in the market, it was gradually affecting due to credit crunch in our public sector bank. During this period Modi had option to use extra revenue they generate in oil bonanza due to low oil price and use it to fund public sector bank and get away with credit crunch but that will not give him any benefit, instead of that he use this money to fund his welfare scheme that help him in win 2019. Issue of credit crunch still there we always believe that there is so much black money in the market, govt thought will get couple of hundred thousands black money by implementing demo. They forget India has such a good jugadu system where everyone finds way to any rules or regulations (particularly powerful people with money) govt fail to achieve desired result.
Lets come to GST, it was discussed since 2004/5 or may be earlier than that but no govt come close to implement. When NDA came to power they initiate this impossible process again, central govt agreed to give 14% increase in their year to year revenue to bring them on board and implement GST. in country such big and with so many states it is always difficult to implement GST effectively without any glitch, benefit of GST will be seen in coming years, changes and improvements are the process of any product or system.
Lets come to COVID, no govt in the world (barring a few such as Australia, NZ etc) did 100% good work in present situation, India did well during the first wave compare to some of the developed world in terms of death percentage. if you notice in the second wave number of patient increase like a slide going upward. govt is at fault by not behaving maturely and leading in its act in such a way to ask others to follow. Some of the state govt also responsible by not doing their part of work.
We are a country where out of 100 people 10 to 20 do not follow traffic rules but that will not lead to increase in accident and death, but covid needs discipline from all our citizen, even if 5% do not follow discipline required by covid than disaster is waiting for us.
No comments, Mr.Shekhar Gupta. I am just counting abuses hurled at you for writing an excellent article.
Two sensible Maharashtrians on this message board …
What is cut from the Rs 100 crore a day vasuli you both get? It’s mighty sensible not to take health and safety lightly — so that you don’t get fires in Covid hospitals and oxygen tanks bursting. Sensible callousness in Maharashtra!
HMMMM yes positive news flowing in from Maharashtra on a daily basis. Quite sensible. Most sensible in the country.
The whole blame has been put on Modi,what other state chief ministers are doing. If they cant do anything let’s have a presidential type governance with getting rid of these non functional CMs. At least try to publish a balanced article otherwise everyone will believe that you are fed by some other party or country.
Please – don’t delude yourself! Of course we are behaving not like a Presidential form, but definitely an autocratic government. So sad – people die by the dozens and not a peep from the powers-that-be.
We are doomed!
It has been a centralised and presidential style governance till now. For goodness sake it’s his bearded face on the covid vaccine certificates as well !
Modi focused on only candles and sounds and Rahul instead of prediction and focus on infrastructure…completely his Govt failure.
The last time this Govt caused havoc was during Demonetisation, when numerous bank officials were forced to work overtime. Some of them even died during duty. Now we have Healthcare providers working round the clock and sweating it out. Numerous healthcare providers have already died. Modi is the most DESTRUCTIVE Prime Minister in the history of Indian Democracy.
Don’t you think that state govt have any responsibility? Last year central govt controlled the entire country in one way , but people blamed central govt.
This year it has given 100% freedom to state govts. When state govt fails the so called analyst blamed again central govt.
The attitude of such people is to blame the central govt any case. Horrible mindset.
This is the time to help one another and survive.
Tell I a love my country. ALL UNDRR ONE UMBRELLA. Let states perform and centre to help all the way .
Wish BJP wins Bengal elections with a clear majority so that our Prime Minister will be free and have enough time to take care of the Covid Crisis. BJP can use the cash reserved for Horse Trading for buying Oxygen
So as the mass media of ALL FORMS….so as the society… nation….so as the people… society and nation…so as the policies… beaurocracy… judiciary……Our greatest problem is mass media…. imagine… PUBLIC FUNDED MASS MEDIA…
BE IT PRINT… ELECTRIC….MOVIES….TV SERIALS……come on….we need CMP for mass media first…. otherwise rest of the pilers will get damaged….loaded…..
While the nation suffers from increasing unemployment, atleast the BJP IT cell seems to be on a hiring spree. Quite easy to see with all these modi worship posts in response to the biting article.
However, the job this time is much tougher. Social media jumlebaazi can work only so much now that the whole Country is suffering from affects of 3rd grade governance of modi and BJP central govt.
Well none among these so called enlightened media and politicians from opposition recognize the efforts of PM even during first LOCKDOWN when the whole world recognized the efforts and what about those politicians who created doubts in the minds of people
Shame on this kind of journalism. From today I really hate this paper.
For telling the truth?
What truth? Since when the likes of Shekhar Gupta care about truth? He seems to be full of glee that India and its citizens are suffering. Lowest of the low scum he is… should be kicked out of India and reside where he gets his money from. We can clearly see the vultures taking turns to attack Modi, India and Indians. All they care about is how their mission masters sitting abroad can be pleased by cursing Modi for being in their way.. Don’t worry, there are millions more like Modi to take his place if required. You please carry on with your agenda….we spit on you.
Just from today- I thought you always didn’t like this paper.
They will never show the positive side.
Yes PM2.0 failed. There are 02 main reason PM is confident and precautionary in first term while in second term he changed to over confidence and egoistic.
In first term he surrounded by some better people and he was ready to listen but now he is surrounded only by AS and AS.
Please analyse the impact of farmer’s protest and their role in the spreading of the virus all over the country.
Sir, Your valuable comments on the current state of affairs in the country are an eye opener for us. But the real pathetic fact is that our country is in the hands of a dispensation which does not readily acknowledge its own lacunae and remains in denial mode. People are silently suffering from the havoc let loose by the pandemic and here a PM who does not care about the electorate and dreams of only winning elections
Foolish criticism without merit…..
Shekhar Ji just read the message board. You will see that this is not 2004. None of this will work. I also want to point out that you have no viewership & no reach. Just a few people like us who keep showing you the mirror. You just dont matter anymore Sir. You just don’t.
STUPID article of nothing !!!
Wow amazing STUPID article of nothing !!!
Please write a better one like Modi ji has successfully controlled the Covid-19 through gaumutra, patanjali kit, ganga jal in kumbh, etc etc..
Why you all hate BJP and nationalism this much election are not under BJP control it’s under election commission *toxic people*
Ohh dear, you know one thing elections are not under BJP it’s under election commission why you all people hate BJP this much so toxic people
This media house is just anti govt. Propaganda machine funded my foreign enemies of India. One the the perfect FAKE news peddlers.
A very correct analysis. The damage has been done.
Once an idiot always an idiot… thats what this leechad so called journo is. It feels as if this guy is full of glee and self vindication that india and its citizens are suffering. Modi hate is bigger than anything for such rakshashas. Shame on you…shame shame shame…..all this while he was sitting tight to find that one moment where he could regurgitate the poison inside him . What did he do exactly for the whole year to combat the situation or help people or our government? Abhi kutta bhonkne ke liye ekdum tayyar hai. Its as if Modi himself invited people to be careless and party around. We the people of India should take the blame as a whole with our careless attitude and apathy towards caution.
So, Mr Guppi,. Just shut up like you were when things were going right for us but not for you. We have lost the patience with the likes of you who are always out to verbally lynch our beloved PM Mr Modi. There will surely be a day of reckoning for the likes of you. Jai hind!
It’s so sad. Your comment. It actually made me sad today. Open your eyes and see. Think. What is listed here are facts. China is 95th in the COVID situation around the world, with a bigger population problem, and the place where this originated too. India is breaking records. We’re currently 2nd on the world. And trust me, this isn’t a proud thing to be ranked 2nd with. Think. Look around you and actually see and think.
Think. Think you want a totalitarian state as China? Think.
Well said! It’s true.
We are not a dictatorship like China. China will not allow 20,000 farmers to hold an agitation when the country is in the grip of a pandemic. In China, I am told that food is left at your door step and you will get beaten by the police if you step out of the house. Figures from China have always been suspect anyway. They will simply open fire on festivals like Kumbh. No political rallies since they are not a democracy and don’t hold elections. So, comparisons with China are irrelevant.
China is a closed dictator-led Communist country with no transparent records of what is happening there, no press freedom, no human freedom, not even Google, Twitter, etc. which are dubious themselves and now significantly powered by China. NO ONE KNOWS CHINA’S ‘FACTS’ and everyone knows that no one knows. So we will take China’s ranking of its Chinavirus deaths – and your endorsement of their ‘facts’ – with a pinch – or sack – of salt, thank you.
It is indeed not heeding to scientists and virologists warning of second wave both from government and people alike ignoring safety measures to follow, and lack of government vision and unable to predict and foresee when huge data available and signs around the world when we have technology of AI ML prediction, and irresponsible decisions of conduction elections allowing Kumbh mela allowing export of vaccines on the name of vaccine diplomacy, failure to educate people to take vaccine via media to eliminate misconceptions about vaccine – it is Modi governments biggest failure for which a heavy price to be paid as covid19 making havoc with people lives
But helps the low life of prestitutes like this author to steam cheap politics for some shit eating money
Modiji will rise out of this in a jiffy. His PR machinery will churn out positive news and his ministry will exercise it’s power to take down articles like this and his social media warriors will troll all those who raise questions. Don’t forget the India Inc that’s going to get richer amidst all this. SG will have write in approximately 6 months on how Modi got out of it unscathed.
Mr. Gupta back to bias journalism. When Kerala and Odisha performs well, credit goes to state govt. When same states fail, blame to Modi. Stop this fake analysis. Liberals favourite MVA govt in Maharashtra has not followed any central guidelines and now they are reaping the actions. Nobody’s talks about them. Only face they can see is MODI. If Modi is guilty and all the CM all are also equally guilty.
It is easy to lecture or prepare a blog over each and every action of Prime Minister because you need only tablet and your brain to choose selected words to malign someone without knowing how it is received by the readers or for that matter common man. Have you ponder over the thought why poor prefer Modi while rich or semi rich or modhhobitto are always dis-approve Modi’s action. I am giving you this subject you believe it or not. Awaiting a write -up on it.
Sponsored by Congress party? Biased article… Badacow
Instead of focusing innoculation drive for whole indian population, they should have simply prioritised the tier1 and tier2 cities first which are more exposed to virus than else where!! by now we could have already completed the vaccination drive for big cities in that way and it could have stopped the second covid wave totally!! Big mistake done by Indian government is that they focused to innoculate every 130 crore population which is a long long process!!
Shekhar Gupta is paid by Chinese and Pakistani govt to write against the Indian Govt. All his articles are against the govt….this pig shud get fucked badly so that these assholes cannnot distroy our India for few Pennies they get from our enemies…
This portal shud get banned…. expression of freedom dies not mean always writing against the govt with wrong facts and just for personal interest
I think people understood that we need to interpret opposite of what is written by Print. If they write something bad about govt? This means govt is doing good.
Shekhar Ji, for all your bluster at Modiji, you fail to show any active effort from any media houses to combat the the current crisis. As a citizen of the country and a true liberal leaning person, I urge you to engage in helping others in need, instead turning the calamity into scoring browney points with other luteyan media houses. Please. Our country needs soothing voices too. This responsibility is not our honourable PM’s alone.
People didn’t vote for the ‘Media’. So spare the media of doing the job of the govt. The 56″ chest is fully exposed, his big mouth is becoming smaller and smaller by the day. Now you asked the same media to come to his rescue, who he studiusly avoided for any open interview. He is all words, his bhashan is his sadhan.
You are obviously another blind and brainless librandu I have to fight on the net. Look dude, I am not defending Modi. Unless you can clearly read and understand English then you’d know, that I am calling out SG on his blatant rhetoric of anti-Modi rant and doing nothing in positive for the society as a proper human being should do. Many times a soothing voice eases agitation. Media can do that. Many times showing positive images, eases mind and hearts, media can do that. Many times just even saying we feel for your pain, gives solidarity to the suffering patient. Instead Print and most of the Indian media is blaming Modi for every trouble they can think of. As if in India there is only one superman Modi and rest of the citizens are literate cave-mans from 2000 bc…… Spare me your blind lectures. You are no better than SG. Now go back to your cave-dwelling and pray that the wuhan virus does not get your family too.
Dude it’s their job to be the devil’s advocate at times.
Pretty much so. I am tired to see Indian media only playing the blame game and doing nothing else. No positive image building, no unity building, no urge to citizens to unite against this calamity. The crux of their article is all about only Modi hate, BJP hate and Hindutva sanghi hate. These librandus are pointing out Modi’s failure, yet they are too blame for same reasons. No wonder BJP is winning with landslides.
Sorry SG ! I beg to disagree ! Government of Modiji for Modiji and by sychopants of Modiji believe that they are immune to the Virus biologically and electorally !
The Congress era Padma Bhushan award winner, Shri Shekar Gupta, skillfully sidestepped two elephants in the room. First was that the much maligned Election Commission had suggested digital campaigning for Bihar elections. But this was opposed by Congress, RJD and the Left. Had this template been agreed upon, we would not have seen the kind of rallies that we have seen not just by BJP but also by TMC, Congress, Left, DMK etc. Secondly the crowds, without masks, at the agitation of rich farmers of Punjab, Haryana and Western UP, which got non-stop coverage from an excited anti NDA liberal media, gave people a false sense of security that covid is over. These two contributed to the 2nd wave.