Modi Ji Ignored ‘The Poor Souls’, Who Felt More Than Disappointed: Julio Ribeiro
Highlights By: Balbir Singh Sooch-Sikh Vichar Manch
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1.       “Modiji should have addressed these poor souls in particular on April 14, 2020. A calendar for reunion with families can still be drawn. Can the laws be tweaked to dock every party with 75% of electoral bond money and use it to fly migrant labour home? Reading the mind of perplexed migrant labour: Communicating is the most important action required, to prevent a repeat of the scenes witnessed at the Bandra railway station. ‘Reading the mind of perplexed migrant labour’: By Julio Ribeiro: Posted: April 19, 2020 06:41 AM (IST): The Tribune, Chandigarh.
“Bridging Sectarian Schism Fight The Pandemic Together:
2.       Bridging sectarian- “relating to or involving relations between religious groups or denominations”; “a major split within an established religious denomination, usually on the grounds of differences in belief or practice, leading to the setting up of a separate breakaway organization, or the offence of causing such a split”: Fight the pandemic together: Posted: Apr 21, 2020 06:45 AM: EDITORIAL: The Tribune, Chandigarh
3.       PM Modi’s message about attaching ‘primacy to unity and brotherhood’, even as we all battle the Covid-19 pandemic that affects everyone equally, is as welcome as it is overdue.
4.       The Prime Minister is right when he says that the disease ‘does not see race, religion, colour, caste, creed, language or border before striking’, and on stressing the need to be together during this trying period.
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5.       Bridging Sectarian Schism Fight The Pandemic Together: Bridging sectarian- “relating to or involving relations between religious groups or denominations” schism; “a major split within an established religious denomination, usually on the grounds of differences in belief or practice, leading to the setting up of a separate breakaway organization, or the offence of causing such a split”: Fight the pandemic together: Posted: Apr 21, 2020 06:45 AM: EDITORIAL: The Tribune, Chandigarh.   
6.       PM Modi’s message about attaching ‘primacy to unity and brotherhood’, even as we all battle the Covid-19 pandemic that affects everyone equally, is as welcome as it is overdue.
7.       The Prime Minister is right when he says that the disease ‘does not see race, religion, colour, caste, creed, language or border before striking’, and on stressing the need to be together during this trying period.
8.       It is an unfortunate fact that a large number of infections were traced back to a particular gathering. The spread of the virus is also tied to the dispersal of individuals who caught the disease there. All this has been given a communal colour.
9.       What to talk of individuals, even government agencies have been identifying those affected by the pandemic by their religious tags.
10.   The absence of clear instructions that would bar the discussion of the religious persuasion of the afflicted, which is often done when there are riots, etc., has led to right-wing vitriol-“anger, bitter criticism; extreme bitterness and hatred towards somebody or something, or an expression of this feeling in speech or writing”, even from legislators of the ruling party, and commentators who spout the same line.
11.   A tremendous strain on the social fabric of this country, and the rest of the world, has been caused by the disruption attributable to the pandemic.
12.   This includes the lockdown and the economic consequences that have arisen due to it;
13.   The hardship caused to the public at large, and the lack of adequate provision to redress the needs of the poor.
14.   This is a time for the healing touch, not to further divide the people of this nation”. https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/editorials/bridging-sectarian-schism-73948
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15.   “Modiji should have addressed these poor souls in particular on April 14, 2020. A calendar for reunion with families can still be drawn. Can the laws be tweaked to dock every party with 75% of electoral bond money and use it to fly migrant labour home? Reading the mind of perplexed migrant labour: Communicating is the most important action required, to prevent a repeat of the scenes witnessed at the Bandra railway station. ‘Reading the mind of perplexed migrant labour’: By Julio Ribeiro: Posted: April 19, 2020 06:41 AM (IST): The Tribune, Chandigarh
16.   “MODI JI was faced with a Hobson’s choice- “a situation in which it seems that you can choose between different things or actions, but there is really only one thing that you can take or do; It's a case of Hobson's choice, because if I don't agree to their terms, I'll lose my job- From: Cambridge Dictionary.”
17.   It was a difficult one to make, but if there is one quality that differentiates Modiji from mere mortals, this is it — he does not shirk from taking tough decisions!
18.   Modiji has opted for life over livelihood. Either way, unfortunate and less-privileged citizens are destined to die.
19.   But what is on every citizen’s mind today is coronavirus. Modiji is determined to save his fellow countrymen and women from the scourges of the virus. He wants to do it more effectively than his counterparts, Donald Trump and other heads of state. He has correctly decided that the desired results can be achieved if people confine themselves to their homes and follow the rule of social distancing.
20.   Unfortunately, half of our people live on the margins of existence. They do not stay in comfortable flats or houses, which can make daily life bearable even if you do not cross the Lakshman Rekha of the threshold of your house.
21.   In a city like Mumbai, slum and chawl dwellers live eight or more to a cramped 10x10 room, use common conveniences situated outside, and sleep on the floor, cheek to jowl.
22.   They are well aware that they remain vulnerable to the virus, whether they stay indoors or travel in overcrowded trains. Either way, they are more likely to catch the virus than citizens like Modiji or me, who are the lucky ones.
23.   The choice for migrant or even local labour is clearly defined. They would gain emotionally if they are amongst their own, even if they lose the benefits of free board and lodging provided by the government. A typical representative of the clan of migrant labour works for me as a domestic. He tells me that he is much better off by choosing to live in my flat but he still wants to see the end of the lockdown, as he wants to be with his family at this difficult time. I do sympathise with him and offer all the help possible under the circumstances.
24.   Talking to him and my daughters’ domestics, who hail like him from Bihar and UP, I realise that Modiji, whose communication skills have never failed him in the worst of times, has tripped on this occasion. He should have addressed these poor souls, in particular, when he spoke to the nation on April 14, 2020. All of them were glued to the TV with hope and expectation writ distinctly on their faces. They were more than disappointed.
25.   The PM’s advisers should have anticipated this reaction. The signs had appeared in the earlier phase of the lockdown.
26.   In Delhi, migrant labour, housed in shelters meant for the homeless, burnt down two such shelters to attract attention to their plight. In Surat (Gujarat), migrant labour, hailing largely from Odisha, came out on the streets and set public and private property on fire to voice their protest”. ‘Reading the mind of perplexed migrant labour’: By Julio Ribeiro: Posted: April 19, 2020 06:41 AM (IST): The Tribune, Chandigarh https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/comment/reading-the-mind-of-perplexed-migrant-labour-73080
Highlights By: Balbir Singh Sooch-Sikh Vichar Manch
First Posted On: October 21, 2019, 9:18 PM (IST)
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Modi Ji Ignored ‘The Poor Souls’, Who Felt More Than Disappointed: Julio Ribeiro