The Union government’s silence over Kumbh Mela crowds at Haridwar during Covid-19 exposes its bias. And this is not only a negligence, it's a serious criminal act.
As new variants are ripping through States around the country, with patients filling up hospitals and crematoriums struggling to handle the numbers of dead, the Uttarakhand government did not just fail to take action limiting numbers at the festival instead it actively encouraged people to come and told them not to worry about Covid-19 restrictions. It also points to blatant double standards and the utter lack of accountability from the authorities.
The question that arises is why did the authorities not do anything to stop Kumbh Mela as well as rallies in the States to ensure safety?
All the big political parties have flouted Covid rules during the campaign for the elections in Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, Assam and West Bengal.
There’s also increasing concern about another new and potentially troublesome Covid variant. India needs to vaccinate faster and increase measures aimed at stopping the virus’s spread.
The worst is yet to come. Unless strict, urgent measures are taken and vaccination is ramped up, we are in for big trouble.
