By: Kayhan Int’l Staff Writer

It is rather unfortunate that at a time when the world’s various communities, ethnicities, and faiths, are dismantling the age-old barriers of prejudice to close ranks in humanity’s common campaign against a pandemic that doesn’t recognize the political borders of countries, the geographical barriers, the ethnic differences, the colour of skin, and the languages spoken, let alone the religion one professes, Coronavirus is being used as weapon by a fringe group in India to target Muslims.
This anarchist group, which likes to call itself ‘Hindu’ but lacks the philosophy of Hinduism, has a track record of violence, vandalism, hatred, and bloodshed.
The irony is these mischief-mongers seem to have official support, as is evident by the hate-filled statements of certain politicians and media sectors of polyglot India, who instead of denouncing such irresponsible and nationally divisive behaviour, condone the attacks on Muslim vendors, labourers, and the like, by accusing them of spreading Coronavirus deliberately.
Last month’s Tabighi Jama’at meet in the capital New Delhi where thousands had gathered with official permission from the government and where some were later tested positive for Covid-19, is being politicized and communalized by certain opportunistic elements to disrupt the national unity of India by charging Muslims of spreading Coronavirus in the country.
Although, we in the Islamic Republic of Iran do not agree with the views and ideas of the Tablighi Jama’at which are not fully compatible with the letter and spirit of the dynamism of Islam, making it a scapegoat in order to target all other Muslims, is definitely a devilish plot, especially when several other political and religious groups, including those connected to the ruling authorities, are openly violating the lockdown in India and have infected hundreds of people with this dangerous disease.  
This has been proven beyond an iota of doubt by the independent Indian press, which recently quoted an unbiased Hindu, Jawhar Sircar, who is a former IAS officer and retired CEO of Prasar Bharati, as well as a reputed historian.
He has listed some congregations in violation of social distancing and other guidelines during the lockdown, saying that at least five or six huge religious gatherings took place in and around March which began with singer Kanika Kapoor’s testing positive for the virus, not once but at least three times. She was part of a glittering party in Lucknow attended by many VIPs and is believed to have infected hundreds of people.
He further said that on March 14, Hindu Mahasabha president Swami Chakrapani hosted a large gathering to celebrate a "gau mutra” programme for drinking cow urine as an antidote for Coronavirus – and his unscientific method worsened the health of many of his followers, making them vulnerable to Covid-19.
Sircar also pointed to the March 16 massive Hindu pilgrim gathering at the Tirupati Temple where those infected by Coronavirus and in turn are infecting many others on return to their towns and villages, have not being tracked.
He also noted that on March 18, Baldev Singh, a Sikh, who returned from a foreign country, organized a large "Hola Mohalla” in Punjab risking the health of 40,000 people. Soon Baldev Singh died of Covid 19, but those who attended this massive gathering have neither been tested nor tracked down.
Moreover, on March 24, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath – a rabidly anti-Muslim figure – held a large televised "Ram Lila” Hindu religious ceremony, once again defying Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal against public crowding, and is believed to have indiscriminately – if not purposefully –spread Covid-19.
And last but not the least, said Jawhar Sircar, on April 5, the day the Prime Minister had asked the entire nation to switch off the lights and hold a candle or a lamp or their torches or cell phones as a symbol of unity, over 200 invitees had gathered at the residence of BJP MLA Dadarao Keche in Maharashtra for his birthday party – oblivious to their spreading of Coronavirus.
In view of these undeniable facts, the government of India, for the sake of national unity should stop these anarchist hate-mongering elements from targeting Muslims when Covid-19 doesn’t recognize religion or ethnicities.