While the country continues to battle the second wave of coronavirus pandemic and the large populace remains indoor due to the lockdowns — the privileged minority community, thriving under Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, was seen flouting all Covid norms in Hyderabad, Asaduddin Owaisi’s backyard.
According to media reports, a huge crowd at Hyderabad’s Charminar gathered today for Eid shopping. Tens of thousands were seen milling at the Madina market indiscriminately without wearing any masks and without maintaining any social distancing. Since cars are banned as part of the restrictions, traffic jams built up in several parts of the old city.
#WATCH | People throng markets near Hyderabad's Charminar area ahead of Eid tomorrow. A 10-day lockdown is in place in Telangana to contain the spread of COVID19 cases pic.twitter.com/LQudIqMpWm
— ANI (@ANI) May 13, 2021
It is imperative to note that Telangana is under a 10-day lockdown since Wednesday and yet the authorities failed to stop the gathering. Similarly, according to an ANI report, many observers arrived at Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad to offer ‘namaz’ on the occasion. They were seen flouting Covid SOPs as the social distancing norm was not followed and no observer was seen wearing mask.
Asaduddin Owaisi, the leader of AIMIM and MP from Hyderabad did appeal in a rather meek tone to his brethren’s to stay put but seems like no action was taken by the authorities on the ground to enforce the diktat.
“In light of lockdown in Telangana, I appeal to people of Telangana that they offer their Eid prayers at home. I request you all to stay safe and adhere to Covid-19 protocol.” Owaisi on Wednesday tweeted.
In light of lockdown in Telangana, I appeal to people of Telangana that they offer their #Eid prayers at home
I request you all to stay safe & adhere to #covid-19 protocolspic.twitter.com/ubRkW8gEYX
— Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) May 12, 2021
As reported by TFI, this is not the first time that Hyderabad has come into the spotlight for flouting Covid norms. A few days ago, India Today Executive Director Shiv Aroor took to Twitter to post a shocking visual where large crowds could be seen flocking the markets at Charminar, old Hyderabad as they collectively violated almost every Covid-19 norm. Forget social distancing, in the video, many people could be seen roaming without masks.
Nearly 29,000 Covid patients are in hospitals across Telangana and with such routine gatherings, it seems difficult to assume that the curve would flatten anytime in the state.
Charminar, Hyderabad, yesterday.#COVID19India pic.twitter.com/p1LvCFRn2D
— Shiv Aroor (@ShivAroor) May 6, 2021
The liberal cabal of the country, which did not hesitate to pin the blame of the emergence of the second wave on the Mahakumbh Mela festivities, even when clear evidence pointed otherwise, have managed to observe a stoic silence on the flouting of norms in Hyderabad. It appears as if minorities in the country have a free pass when it comes to incidents as such. And that is secularism working at its finest.
