Part-time activist and full-time fearmonger – Shehla Rashid has crossed all limits of sanity and made a rather embarrassing, yet veiled threat to the government. Although by the look of it the tweet by her seems to be an appeal, however, we have been covering Shehla for too long now and know that ‘appeals’ are not what she makes. Veiled threats though, are her forte.
“Appeal to the government of India to revoke recent controversial decisions such as CAA, NPR, nationwide NRC, etc. in the wake of Coronavirus outbreak. There are mass protests in the country everywhere due to these decisions, please halt them for now,” her tweet read.
https://twitter.com/Shehla_Rashid/status/1239373111251726336?s=20
One cannot fathom the illiteracy of Shehla and her ilk when it comes to decisions taken by the Modi government. How, pray tell, can the government revoke NRC, when a bill has not even been drafted in the regard? Moreover, how can the process of NPR be halted, unless Shehla is of the opinion that the census to be conducted next year can wait? As for CAA, Home Minister Amit Shah has stated umpteen times that the legislation is here to stay and no amount of protests will lead to its withdrawal.
Shehla Rashid’s ‘appeal’ further stands defeated as even Arvind Kejriwal has instructed protestors, specifically at Shaheen Bagh, to suspend their circus in view of the impending COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, the protestors did not oblige to such instructions and continue to feed on free Biryani.
Shaheen Bagh protesters put protest over people, decide not to end the blockade.
Details by TIMES NOW's Siddhant. | #ShaheenBlocksCoronaWar pic.twitter.com/Rdt0kPwXzz
— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) March 16, 2020
While the onus lies with the protestors to suspend their uncalled for protests in view of the Coronavirus pandemic, what Shehla seems to suggest is that the government should compromise on its core agenda to convince the protestors to end their respective shows. If not, it is clear that the protestors don’t give two hoots about an imminent threat to their lives, and to the lives of others. For a people who are willing to voluntarily let their children die in the winter cold only to keep their stomachs full, such fidayeen mentality is only but expected.
Shaheen Bagh is a ticking time bomb, waiting to explode. It might just prove to be the first venue where community transmission of Coronavirus begins in India. As such, it becomes the responsibility on the part of the protestors to call off their ‘movement’, to ensure that public health and safety is maintained in the country. However, these protestors do not value life. Neither their own, nor of others. This mentality can prove to be a serious catalyst in the spread of Coronavirus.
Shehla Rashid is in no position to lay down demands which would result in the suspension of protests. What she could have done, however, is to advise the protestors to suspend their activities until the threat due to Coronavirus is contained. Doing that, however, would earn her the wrath of her community. Although a stated communist, Shehla Rashid has her religious loyalties amply clear, and she does not seem to agree with Marx’s saying that religion is the opium of the masses. Only last month, Shehla had opined that India faces absolutely no threat from Islamic terrorism, and that all threats are posed by ‘Hindu terrorists’.
Another specimen of insanity, and a journalist with The Wire, Arfa Khanum had this to say on the matter:
Following Coronavirus,some well-meaning people are asking the women of ShaheenBagh to end the protest.
Fine.
But have you tried putting some of this pressure on the govt to withdraw CAA?
Why expect all responsible behaviour & prudence from oppressed people?
None from oppressors?— Arfa Khanum Sherwani (@khanumarfa) March 16, 2020
It is absolutely clear that Arfa and her kind are least bothered about the safety of Indians from a lethal virus. What they are only concerned about is that their demands are met, by arm-twisting a government which cannot be arm-twisted. Here’s the truth for such suicide-killers. The government will not meet your demands. As responsible citizens (if they consider themselves so), it is an obligation on your part to prevent community transmission of Coronavirus. Even your poster boy, Arvind Kejriwal has said the same. Despite a threat to public health, if you are not willing to oblige to advisories, don’t be surprised if you are picked up from the protest sites and locked up using force. You will have nobody except yourselves to blame.