Several media publications on Wednesday (May 5) carried a controversial news report suggesting that the Uttar Pradesh government, led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, had issued instructions to every cow shelter (gaushala) to adhere to Covid-19 restrictions. Moreover, the reports claimed, rather falsely, that cow shelters will also be equipped with oximeters to ensure that the cows are being taken care of properly.
“The cow shelters will also be equipped with all the medical equipment’s such as oximeters and thermal scanners for cows and other animals as well,” National daily Times of India had reported in its article.
Several other liberal media platforms like The Indian Express quickly carried the same story. The entire cabal rose up on Twitter and started targeting the UP government for having misplaced priorities.
However, as it turns out, the liberal media outlets had falsely reported the news story. Speaking to India Today, the Additional Chief Secretary (Information), Navneet Sehgal remarked that no such order of using oximeters or thermal scanners for cows had been issued by the Uttar Pradesh government.
“Instead, such things (oximeters) with the help desk will be installed in gaushalas for staff only owing to the scare of Covid-19,” said Navneet Sehgal.
Fake News by some big News Portals vs Reality pic.twitter.com/f7nj4o2o0d
— Political Kida (@PoliticalKida) May 6, 2021
The press release was issued to inform about the setting up of helpdesks at the cow shelters. The state government had issued instructions that all the cow shelters or gaushalas must strictly follow the Covid-19 protocols. However, the liberal media had to twist the narrative by subtly putting Yogi Administration on the spot.
As the second wave of the China-made coronavirus pandemic continues to surge and the partisan media continues to target the UP government, CM Yogi Adityanath has been quietly going about his business. The monk CM recently decided to deploy retired doctors, retired personnel of the armed forces and para-medical staff into service to counter the caseload.
Read More: To deal with Covid-19 crisis, Yogi Adityanath decides to rope in retired doctors, paramedical staff
Moreover, as reported by TFI, the Yogi Adityanath government in the last two days has cracked down on such hospitals that were supposedly hoarding the oxygen, supplied by the state government whilst turning down the patients.
Thus, the reports by the media publications are untrue and misleading as the government has provided the oximeters and thermal scanners for people working at the cowsheds, and not for the cows.