Photo by Prinita Thevarajah.

By now, the name Narendra Modi may sound familiar to you. He is the Prime Minister of India since 2014, and a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) who are currently running for the 2021 elections.

Amidst a second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, India has been hit the hardest, with over 21.49 million cases and deaths exceeding 234,000. India’s healthcare system is in a state of collapse, with hospital beds, oxygen cylinders and ventilators unable to accommodate the number of patients. As of last week, India has reported 116 frontline workers dead. Parks and parking lots have been turned into makeshift burial grounds to cremate loved ones as crematoriums and graveyards have long since reached breaking point. 

This would be the time for a leader to take charge, create a strategic plan of attack to fight for his people to survive…And yet, rather than diverting funds to help those in dire need, Modi is continuing with an $1.8 billion parliamentary revamp in New Delhi (one of the cities in India with the highest cases of COVID) of the Central Vista Redevelopment Project deeming it an ‘‘essential service,” amongst total chaos which has had families of victims pleading on social media for aid.

While social media has become a helpline of sorts, the Indian government has still managed to monopolize it into silencing people speaking out against the horrors that are happening in their own country. See below how the crisis has unravelled at the hands of a government more concerned about vanity, than humanity.

India’s COVID-19 Timeline

March 2020

The first wave of COVID-19 in March 2020 for India had Modi ordering a strict 3-week lockdown with just 4 hours of notice, causing many migrant workers to walk for days to get home to their villages, as transport was shut down. 

With 500 cases confirmed, the number was relatively low compared to other countries. 

May 2020

The nationwide lockdown continued until mid-May with essential services only, but with some additional outlets opening such as liquor stores, which soon shut down due to crowds gathered outside.

June 2020

Phased re-opening of services began and domestic flights ensued with 30 percent capacity. 

July 2020

International flights resumed with reduced capacity.

August 2020

More services began re-opening, such as public transit, gyms and yoga centres, with the night curfew revoked. Gatherings with 100 people were passed.

September 2020

India has a spike in cases, with 97,570 people found Coronavirus positive within 24 hours on September 11th. By the end of September, outdoor gatherings have an open capacity limit and indoor events are allowed at 50 percent capacity. 

October 2020 – May 2021

Throughout October onwards BJP election rallies have been taking place all across India, led by Modi, with huge crowds gathered, with many not wearing masks or social distancing.

The Farmers Protests against corporatizing agriculture which have been ongoing since this time, have seen some wearing masks but not taking social distancing precautions. Many protestors have been badly beaten, threatened and jailed during this time on behalf of the Indian government and police.

Religious Hindu ceremonies with millions gathered have ensued, including the inauguration of the Ayodhya Ram temple (again, you guessed it, led by Modi) and the recent Kumbh festival.

How You Can Help

It may seem as though this is an ‘India-specific’ issue, with its own government failing the people. But in the words of writer and political activist, Arundhati Roy: “No, India cannot be isolated. We need help.”

Even with two manufacturers producing the vaccine in India, the Serum Institute of India (SII) and Bharat Biotech, 87 percent of the world’s vaccine supply has been allocated to higher income countries, with a lack of domestic supply.

We in the West are at an advantage, not only with our vaccine supplies at the expense of India, but by the other benefits we’ve also taken from them. Yoga and namaste, anyone? Ayurveda, turmeric and chai ring a bell? Consider this if you’ve partaken in or profit off any of the above, yet still think it’s up to India to clean up the bloody mess all by themselves.

Lend a hand, make a donation today to Oxygen For India or a donation to Khalsa Aid to show up for India with the support that they desperately need. We recommend following Sikh Expo for updates on what’s happening.