Rahul Gandhi’s constituency of Wayanad yesterday witnessed a congregation of Christians, gathering for the purpose of the Sunday mass, in absolute disregard towards the nationwide lockdown promulgated in order to arrest the spread of Coronavirus in the country.
According to Mananthavady police station sources, the priest Tom Joseph of Missionaries of Faith Minor church at Vemam, two nuns and seven others who participated in the mass yesterday morning were booked under Section 269 (negligence likely to spread infection) and 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the IPC, PTI reported.
These stunts of certain groups do not come as a surprise, as it was only but expected of certain people to let their religion come in the way of securing public health. What was the raging urgency to hold a gathering for a mass, despite strict orders from the government that no religious congregations are to be observed? In a state like Kerala, which is arguably the worst affected by COVID-19 in the country, such behaviour reeks of callousness and indifference and further shows why Kerala is fighting a battle for its life.
While some Christians have been caught flouting lockdown guidelines on Sunday, there were reports of namaz being offered by Muslims on Friday. This, despite the fact that there is a nationwide lockdown in place, and that Asaduddin Owaisi had also urged the community to offer namaz indoors.
As a matter of fact, on Friday, a congregation of Muslims turned violent against the police personnel for daring to stop them from offering namaz at a mosque in UP’s Bhogaon in Mainpuri. Another mass namaz was offered in Bahraich, and it was reported that an FIR has been registered against 15-20 people, including cleric for offering the namaz in violation of the lockdown.
Practitioners of supremacist Abrahamic faiths must realise that their absolute contempt for the lockdown guidelines, and the failure of some among them to fully adhere to the same, risks public health at large. What is needed is a temporary suspension of all religious congregations. How difficult is that to comprehend?
If Hindus can suspend all religious activity, even at a time when the Navratri was supposed to be observed, it is the duty of all others to follow suit. Prayers can be made at home. One does not need to gather in large groups and pretend to be immune to the virus. While the suspension of religious activities will snatch the only sense of purpose some have in their lives, they must oblige nevertheless. Staying home is not a choice. It is the duty of every Indian citizen right now, by law.