Tweets from the Gulf

The recent spate of tweets by some, rather many, personalities of the Middle East, related to the persecution of minorities in India is not amusing at all. Firstly, it only increases the social fissures in India, even if the statements appear to be a retributive reaction to the perception based on some amount of discrimination which has apparently happened. Those individuals who post from abroad on matters related to India are well within their rights to express their opinion based on their understanding or perception. There is no need to get unduly worried, elated, respond to them with a zeal of a soldier defending the country, or take that as an affirmation of beliefs held at a personal level. Saying that it also goes there is no doubt about a negative image of our country being projected by such statements. 

Secondly, as it happens with everything on social media, the initial statements give way to many unsubstantiated messages from unverified sources and made to "trend" with ulterior motives. There is every chance that inimical forces will lap up this opportunity to drive the wedge further. Therefore caution, circumspection, and discretion must be exercised by everybody in reading, analysing, commenting, and more particularly forwarding such messages as a matter of fun or otherwise. There is absolutely no justification or need to indulge in a reverse campaign of hate based on religious or racist grounds.

Thirdly, let us not be oblivious of the fact that with the spread of Corona virus and the resultant drop in crude oil prices, the economies of the Gulf and Middle East countries are getting devastated and comparatively with a more telling effect. So it is natural that there will be some job shrinkages, scaling down of lifestyle,  frustrations, and general discontent among the people of these countries. These series of comments could well be a groundwork for laying off the expatriate workforce with some discriminatory justifications. This is a matter of great concern as even twenty percent of the reduction in jobs and payouts there will have a spiraling effect in India.

And finally, the timing of the comments, though apparently normal is quite disturbing, if the surface is scratched. The month-long event of Ramadan has just started. With the COVID effect and the lockdown, there will be challenges that will be faced in maintaining the social distancing norms. With the air of suspicion, distrust, hatred, and malicious propaganda all around things do not bide well at all.

Everybody needs to be vigilant. Religious fanaticism and discrimination are both equally harmful. In fact, both are complementary. But I doubt if sane voices are heard anymore. Or if anybody bothers to remain sane under this polarised atmosphere made more vitiated by the virus that afflicts us all.