New Delhi: Earth Day wishes, vicious stings and cryptic barbs. Coronavirus was meant to be free of politics but as you can see, it’s deeply infected.
First off, Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanks ‘Mother Nature’ on Earth Day, and gives a “shout out” to healthcare workers.
On International Day of Mother Earth, we all express gratitude to our planet for the abundance of care & compassion. Let us pledge to work towards a cleaner, healthier & more prosperous planet.
A shout out to all those working at the forefront to defeat COVID-19. #EarthDay2020
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 22, 2020
The Dalai Lama has his own Earth Day hopes which everyone should agree to fulfill.
We can no longer exploit the resources of this earth—the trees, the water, and other natural resources—without any care for coming generations. Common sense tells us that unless we change, we won’t survive. This Earth Day let’s resolve to live in harmony with nature.
— Dalai Lama (@DalaiLama) April 22, 2020
Former J&K Chief Minister and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, who’s still under detention, takes strong objection to the arrest of a third journalist in the Kashmir valley who’s been booked under the stringent anti-terror UAPA law.
Absurd that filing FIRs & slapping anti terror laws like UAPA against journalists is being done at breakneck speed even in the middle of a deadly pandemic. Latest addition being @GowharGeelani. This is the ‘heaven’ reserved for minorities in India.
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) April 21, 2020
Activist Shehla Rashid, as you’d expect, raises questions about ‘democracy’ after the action against journalists.
Government of India should simply ban journalism in Kashmir. This facade of being a democracy makes idealistic young people take up journalism, and they end up criminalised, jailed or assassinated. You can't charge journalists with such draconian laws and also be a 'democracy.'
— Shehla Rashid (@Shehla_Rashid) April 22, 2020
Former Bihar chief minister and RJD leader Lalu Prasad Yadav, who has been in jail since 2017, gives Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s government a black tick mark in its handling of the coronavirus crisis.
Nitish’s overall handling is a bigger disaster thn #COVID19 .The worst affectees of this crisis are poor & daily wagers.He has completely ignored & disowned them by co-opting BJP’s ideology of caring only abt affluent.Kursi is supreme for him,he can’t compromise & live without it https://t.co/5uy2USixQ6
— Lalu Prasad Yadav (@laluprasadrjd) April 21, 2020
Likewise, Congress leader Hardik Patel scolds the Gujarat government, for its alleged failure to deal with the corona crisis.
गुजरात सरकार ने कोरोना मरीज़ों के लिए निजी अस्पताल के दरवाज़े खोलें हैं, लेकिन निजी अस्पताल वाले मनमानी से फ़ी ( एक दिन के 50 हज़ार ) माँग रहे हैं। गुजरात सरकार अपनी जिम्मदारियों से भाग रही हैं एवं कोरोना महामारी से लड़ने के लिए एक भी योजना नहीं हैं। गुजरात मॉडल का पर्दाफ़ाश हैं।
— Hardik Patel (@HardikPatel_) April 22, 2020
Advocate Prashant Bhushan bemoans the current state of the Supreme Court.
I have watched the Supreme Court since the Emergency. The kind of abject surrender to the govt that we are seeing today was not seen even during the Emergency. Most judges have totally forgotten their oath to protect the Constitution & fundamental rights of people. Pathetic!
— Prashant Bhushan (@pbhushan1) April 21, 2020
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel shares the contents of his letter to the PM. He requests some loving care…
मैंने माननीय प्रधानमंत्री श्री नरेन्द्र मोदी जी को पत्र लिखकर छत्तीसगढ़ की खनन परियोजनाओं और औद्योगिक इकाईयों द्वारा प्रधानमंत्री केयर फंड में जमा की गई सी.एस.आर. की राशि को शीघ्र राज्य सरकार को अंतरित करने हेतु निर्देश देने का अनुरोध किया है। @PMOIndia
— Bhupesh Baghel (@bhupeshbaghel) April 22, 2020
Mumbai Police is nothing if not original on Twitter. Here, it remembers Tom and Jerry animator Gene Deitch.
You don’t need to step out of the house for adventure – thank you for this invaluable message, Mr. Deitch! #RIPGeneDeitch #NoCatAndMouseWithCorona #TakingOnCorona pic.twitter.com/F5AXkPA1m7
— Mumbai Police (@MumbaiPolice) April 21, 2020
Comedian Atul Khatri is amused by the latest Facebook-Reliance Jio deal.
https://twitter.com/one_by_two/status/1252800114407563264
However, Chairman of the Mahindra Group, Anand Mahindra congratulates Mukhesh Ambani on the deal for a patriotic reason.
Jio’s deal with Facebook is good not just for the two of them. Coming as it does during the virus-crisis, it is a strong signal of India’s economic importance post the crisis. It strengthens hypotheses that the world will pivot to India as a new growth epicentre. Bravo Mukesh! https://t.co/5rIi6WOjWf
— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) April 22, 2020
Delhi Health Minister, Satyendar Jain shares ‘happiness therapy’ classes in the corona ward of Delhi government’s Chaudhary Brahm Prakash Ayurvedic Institute.
Bharat Ratna and superstar singer Lata Mangeshkar has a small request from ‘ACP Pradyuman’ of CID fame on his birthday. Find out what it is….
सर्वे भवंतू सुखिनः! दिल्ली सरकार के चौधरी ब्रह्म प्रकाश आयुर्वैदिक संस्थान में बनाए गए Corona Ward में मरीजों को दी जा रही है हैप्पीनेस थेरेपी. हमारा संकल्प – आप स्वस्थ रहें, प्रसन्न रहें. pic.twitter.com/pMD8uiWfQj
— Satyendar Jain (@SatyendarJain) April 22, 2020
And finally a cryptic tweet by WHO Chief Tedros. What do you think he means? ACP Pradyuman please help.
Forgive.
— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) April 21, 2020
With inputs from Yimkumla Longkumer
Worms are coming out of woods.