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FOR THE WEEK MAY 18 - MAY 24 26 54 67 AP JAIN ARVIND WORLD MIGRANTS CRISIS @LEISURE The pandemic has thrown Brazil After the trauma of forced Jyothika’s successful comeback into a chasm that is its social, displacement, urban workers are formula is making waves in economic and racial divide unlikely to return soon Tamil cinema

12 MILITANCY Pakistan does not COLUMNS 38 COVER STORY want international 9 POWER POINT attention turned away Sachidananda Murthy from Kashmir 15 MANIFESTO 16 CONTROVERSY Mani Shankar Aiyar A second Covid-19 wave has reignited 23 PMO BEAT communal tensions in R. Prasannan Bhatkal 37 IVORY TOWER Sanjaya Baru 18 ARMY The blame game over 66 BITTER CHOCOLATE the mass failure of Swara Bhasker women cadets at OTA Chennai 74 LAST WORD Bibek Debroy 20 AAROGYA SETU Questions raised about the future of 52 INTERVIEW privacy and civil rights Need to revive growth SALIL BERA SALIL HANDS ON in Covid-struck India as early as feasible: Medics Bimal Jalan, former RBI TICKING COVID BOMB prepare 24 MAHARASHTRA to collect The mounting trou- governor Low testing, a delayed reaction to the outbreak samples for bles have not affected 58 PHOTO FEATURE and attempts to cover up mismanagement swab tests Uddhav Thackeray’s Glimpses of a damaged could spell disaster for West Bengal, which has in Kolkata popularity economy the highest Covid-19 death rate in the country COVER ILLUSTRATION BINESH SREEDHARAN Plus Printed at Malayala Manorama Press, Kottayam, Print House India Pvt Ltd, Mumbai, M P Printers, Noida, and Rajhans Enterprises, Bengaluru, ◆ I fear the worst is in store for us: Dr Sukumar and published from Manorama Buildings, Panampilly Nagar, Kochi-682 Mukherjee, chairman, state health advisory committee 036, by Jacob Mathew, on behalf of the Malayala Manorama Co.Ltd., ◆ The Covid crisis is a subplot in the war between the BJP Kottayam-686 001. Editor Philip Mathew and Trinamool Congress • Focus/Infocus features are paid marketing/PR initiatives

MAY 24, 2020 • THE WEEK 3 LETTERS

to hide things and will the skewed funding judiciary in the country But, it is wrong to show Editor Philip Mathew Chief Associate Editor & Director Riyad Mathew EXCLUSIVE SHARJAH PRINCESS AL QASSEMI EXCLUSIVE BANGLADESH FM not cooperate with any system of the WHO, turning digital, but the same emotions for ON ISLAMOPHOBIA: I SEE HOPE, BECAUSE IT IS INDIA OUR PEOPLE WILL NOT STARVE M.K. STALIN V.S. Jayaschandran JOURNALISM WITH A HUMAN TOUCH www.theweek.in TheWeekMag TheWeekLive $ 50 CENTRE MADE COVID-19 Editor-in-Charge A LIGHT & SOUND SHOW international body, and the need for urgent security concerns have both pets and family Senior News Editor Stanley Thomas VIRTUAL COURTS: TECHNOLOGY ON TRIAL and that is a dilemma strengthening of the remained a cause for members. News Editor Lukose Mathew WHAT’S BEHIND THE AMBANI- ZUCKERBERG MEGA DEAL MAY 10, 2020 MAY that the world faces. It body. Had the WHO concern (‘Order online’, Anuja Deputy News Editors Mathew T. George, Maijo Abraham, is time India and other informed and sounded May 10). The Supreme Chandrasekharan, Ajish P. Joy WHO Resident Editor, Delhi K.S. Sachidananda Murthy STOLE MY superpowers of the an early alarm, the Court and the high On email. Chief of Bureau, Delhi R. Prasannan PEACE! Chief of Bureau, Mumbai Dnyanesh V. Jathar The World Health Organization world intervened and course of the crisis courts should have is caught in a Covid storm. THE WEEK puts the Deputy Chief of Bureau, Delhi Neeru Bhatia global body under cornered China. The would have been quite online hearing more A poignant read a microscope Chief Subeditors Susamma Kurian, government of India’s different. often, and the judges and Last Word by Barkha Dutt Navin J. Antony decision to make prior Owing to the influence lawyers should get used was straightforward (May Senior Subeditors Anirudha Karindalam, Anirudh Madhavan clearance mandatory for of developed countries to it. 10). The truth is there Subeditors Diya Mathew, Karthik Ravindranath, foreign investments from and undue political More virtual courts for all to see. Migrant Reuben Joe Joseph, Nirmal Jovial countries like China is a pressure, platforms like should be set up in the workers were left to fend SENIOR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENTS PRINCIPAL CORRESPONDENTS step in the right direction. the WHO are found days to come as that will for themselves, until Delhi: Rekha Dixit, Mandira Nayar, Hyderabad: Rahul Devulapalli

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Tit-for-tat, isn’t it? wanting in delivering the help in bringing greater they decided to rally in Namrata Biji Ahuja, Soni Mishra, Kochi: Anjuly Mathai with Chinese President Xi Jinping Tapesh Nagpal, results expected of them. professionalism into different places in the K. Sunil Thomas Srinagar: Tariq Ahmad Bhat SENIOR CORRESPONDENTS On email. Vijay Singh Adhikari, the proceedings. It is country. Lucknow: Puja Awasthi Bengaluru: Mini P. Thomas, Kolkata: Rabi Banerjee Stop supporting China On email. important to open up On numerous Abhinav Singh Delhi: Sneha Bhura The World Health Organization could have done At the time when the such hearings for the occasions, these people SPECIAL CORRESPONDENTS Mumbai: Priyanka Bhadani, Delhi: Pratul Sharma, Namita Kohli, Pooja Biraia Jaiswal a lot more to contain the virus in the initial stages, WHO has been dragged I went through your public as they can keep were treated as second- Pradip R. Sagar when it was spreading in China. Why is it so scared into an avoidable cover story on the WHO a track of all important class citizens, which Bengaluru: Prathima Nandakumar Thiruvananthapuram: Cithara Paul CHIEF REPORTER of China? The WHO’s biased attitude towards controversy by in one go. If not for your hearings. was unacceptable. Mumbai: Nachiket Kelkar UAE: Raju Mathew, Dubai China is completely unacceptable, and it should supercilious member- cover story, a person Vrinda Gopi, The employers, agents Chennai Lakshmi Subramanian Bhopal: Sravani Sarkar stop parroting China’s stands once and for all (‘All countries like the US and like me who comes On email. and sponsors of these Ahmedabad: Nandini Gunavantrai Oza ill, no will’, May 10). China, it is appropriate from a tier-two city can marginalised people Photo Editor: Sanjoy Ghosh Art Editor: Jayakrishnan M.T. There should be an independent, international that your cover story never judge the working Enjoyable read reacted as if they did not Deputy Photo Editors Assistant Art Editor: Binesh Sreedharan inquiry on the handling of the Covid-19 crisis by brought out a calibrated of such a big name I enjoyed reading the exit. What a pity! Bhanu Prakash Chandra, Salil Bera Senior Infographic

the WHO. Like everyone else, the members of the story of what’s what institution. I feel people column by Venugopal, Chief Photographers Designer: Sreemanikandan S. Delhi: Arvind Jain, Sanjay Ahlawat Illustrator: B. Bhaskaran WHO have to be concerned about China and the and who’s who of the should continue to ask Swara Bhasker where Kollam, Kerala. Mumbai: Janak Bhat, Amey Suhas Mansabdar Layout Artist: B. Manojkumar reckless manner in which it has handled Covid-19. WHO. When the whole questions to the WHO. she mentioned about Photographer Designers: Deni Lal, Job P.K. T.K. Krishnan, world is reeling under an I must thank your team her pets. I could relate Just hype Delhi: Aayush Goel Graphic Designer: Syam Krishnan Chief Picture Coordinator Artists: Rajesh A.S., Sumesh C.N., On email. unprecedented health for bringing clear facts to her (‘Bitter chocolate’, Your story on online Bimal Nath C. Sujesh K., Ajeesh Kumar M., Jairaj T.G. hazard, the blame-game in such a grave situation. May 10). There are so classrooms emphasised Research: Jomy M. Joseph Senior Researcher: Rani G.S. against the world health I look forward to more many people that I the need for the Photo Archivist: Deepak Joy T. We cannot believe trusted all that came from body is suicidal. such fantastic cover know who are enjoying technology and its THEWEEK.IN everything that Donald China in the beginning Raveendranath A., stories. the lockdown in the reach, but I feel schools New Media Coordinator Neeraj Krishnan Trump says, but there is of the year. Yes, the WHO On email. Bhanwar Purohit, company of their are hyping up virtual Deputy New Media Coordinator Sarath Ramesh Kuniyl no denying the fact that needs a comprehensive Raipur, Chhattisgarh. pets. Pets definitely classrooms (‘Screen Senior Subeditors Hazeeda Vijayakumar, Sumitra Nair, Vaisakh E. Hari, Ancy K. Sunny, the WHO should have makeover, and at the Your cover story has, keep you engaged, and taught’, May 3). Virtual Jose K. George, Justin Paul George intervened at the right earliest. rightly, underlined you will never feel bored. classrooms are okay for Subeditors Vinod V.K., Anita Babu, Varun Ramesh Open to the public Balan time. It should not have China will continue the lack of autonomy, It is good to see higher For some, pets are like high-school and college Senior Researcher Saju C. Daniel their children and they students, but it does not Multimedia Rahul J. Mohan, Vipin Das P. take care of them so suit small children, who Executive Director George Jacob much. are known to even bond Vice President, Marketing, Advertising Sales Varghese Chandy SUBSCRIPTIONS/CUSTOMER CARE CIRCULATION Hyderabad: BUREAU ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE EDITORIAL So many people, these with their teachers. For all subscription related inquiries Bengaluru: 040-23314168/23324692 Bengaluru: Manorama Buildings, P.B. No. 26, Manorama Buildings, Vice President, Circulation M. Rajagopalan Nair please write, email or fax to 080-22247735/22247736 Kolkata: 033- 24198233 080-22867345, 22867050 Kottayam 686001, Kerala, India. P.B. No. 4278, Panampilly Nagar, days, mourn the death A teacher not only Senior General Manager, Sales Hari M. Varrier Senior Manager, Circulation, Bhopal: 0755-2557937 Kottayam: 0481-2563646 Kolkata: 033-24556995, Tel: 0481-2563646 Kochi 682036, Kerala, India. MUMBAI 24198344, ext.216 Manorama Buildings, Lucknow: 0522-2341576 REGIONAL CO-ORDINATING of their pet dogs on guides students in their Resident Chief General Manager Shree Kumar Menon Chandigarh: 0172-2724699 Chennai: 044-66918500 [email protected] PB No. 4278, Panampilly Nagar, Mumbai: 022-24901331, OFFICE CHENNAI Kochi - 682036. Kerala Chennai: 39495969 Delhi: 011-23354920 Tej Building, 1st Floor, Bahadur http://www.theweek.in social media platforms. studies, but also helps Hyderabad: Regional Chief General Manager K.C. Suresh Email: [email protected] 044-66918530/31 Patna: 0612-2233809 Shah Zafar Marg, Indian cricket captain shape their character. Coimbatore: 040-23314168, 23324692 New Delhi 110 002. +91 484-4447888 BENGALURU Toll free no.: 18001035981 Jaipur: Mumbai: 022-22074604, Cochin: 0484-4447507 0422-2241911/2245470 0141-2368360/4005808 Tel: 011-23354920, 23354921, Virat Kohli had informed K. Aravinda Regional Chief General Manager Ranjit Kurien 22004358 +91 484-2315745 For advertising: +91 98953 95097 Delhi: Thiruvananthapuram: 23359541, 23355801, 23356537 NEW DELHI Bhopal: 0755-2431001 Fax: 43541354 recently that his pet dog Upadhyaya, Email: [email protected] 011-23379718, 23379719 0471-2328198 Lucknow: 0522-2701725 Chief Marketing Officer (North) & had passed away. On email. Head, Special Projects R. Rajmohan TheWeekMag @TheWeekLive TheWeekMag 85 89 99 48 69 4 THE WEEK • MAY 24, 2020 MAY 24, 2020 • THE WEEK 5 APERITIF THE BIG PICTURE

SAVING LACE As the Covid-19 pandemic has changed the norms of social interaction and hygiene, masks are likely to remain a part of attire for a while. The mother and the child in the sculpture in Kolkata wear masks to create awareness.

PHOTO BY SALIL BERA

6 THE WEEK • MAY 24, 2020 MAY 24, 2020 • THE WEEK 7 APERITIF

POWER POINT SACHIDANANDA MURTHY POINT BLANK MILESTONES

HEART FOR CHARITY People want to move out of Tennis star Sania Mirza became the first Indian to win the Fed Cup Heart Ministers vs super-bureaucrat China. However, it is up to Award for her successful return to us to cajole, beg, attract and the court post pregnancy. Mirza do whatever it takes to bring announced that she will donate the eople get “high” after consuming good In Haryana, Home and Health Minister Anil people here. We have to award amount of $2,000 to Telanga- quantities of alcohol, but ministers and the Vij—who has had differences with chief minister make business free from the na Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. Ptop bureaucrat of Punjab are in high temper Manohar Lal Khattar—finds himself being over- clutches of ten-circulars-a- over a discussion on liquor policy. Finance Min- ruled by the chief secretary on orders from above. day babus, else nobody will ister Manpreet Singh Badal, who has led the min- Under the government business transaction come here. isterial revolt against Chief Secretary Karan Avtar rules, if there is an irreconcilable difference on a Chetan Bhagat, Singh, however calls it a “high” policy debate, not subject between a minister and a departmental

SANJAY AHLAWAT SANJAY author an ego clash. secretary, then the subject should go to the cab- But the row over liquor licenses between minis- inet. At the Centre, the cabinet secretary is never ters and Avtar Singh—who was heading the excise the secretary-in-charge of a ministry and does I think we might go back to the good old department—has given light entertainment in a not report to a minister. But in states, the chief days when fielders would still stand in state hit by lockdown. Chief Minister Amarinder secretary sometimes handles a department, and their designated positions after the fall of a Singh gently chided Badal and his colleagues for can have more than one boss. That is what has wicket and clap. FEMALE LEAD Ajinkya Rahane, Bank of Japan, the Japanese central walking out of a liquor policy meeting. During the happened to Avtar Singh. cricketer, on matches post Covid-19 bank, appointed Tokiko Shimizu, 55, meeting, Avtar Singh felt that ministers were sup- But there have been clashes in the Union cabi- as its first female executive director porting liquor sellers, while net, too. Deputy prime minis- Epidemiologists morphed into econo- in its 138-year history. Japan ranks at the ministers accused the ter Devi Lal used to complain mists. While the former could not flatten the bottom among the G7 countries bureaucrat of owning a that prime minister V.P. the disease curve, the latter flattened the for gender equality, according to the distillery through his son. Singh was using the cabinet economy…. World Economic Forum. The chief minister felt that secretary and other officials Manish Tewari, the ministers should have to thwart proposals from the Congress leader asked the chief secretary agriculture ministry. to leave the room, as he In 1994, there was a fierce The treasurer of the world’s wealthiest is below the ministers in exchange of words between party [BJP], Mr Piyush Goyal, is the [Union] AFP protocol. the Union minister of state railway minister. Can’t his party fund the I love gajar ka halwa, but I The ministers said they for food, Kalpnath Rai, and migrant workers’ journey back home? would deprive myself. How- would boycott the cabinet meeting if Avtar Singh cabinet secretary Zafar Saifullah. The abnormal Derek O’ Brien, ever, last year, I decided to just is present. Amarinder Singh asked his favourite rise in sugar prices had become a crisis for the P. Trinamool Congress leader eat it and I ended up eating bureaucrat to take leave for half day when the V. Narasimha Rao government. The civil supplies it more than 20 times during The ways of the prime minister must radi- NEW EARTH cabinet was meeting. When the ministers attend- ministry proposed procurement of sugar at lower the season and I actually lost cally change. He needs to listen more atten- Researchers at the University of ed but protested the behaviour of Avtar Singh, prices, which Rai opposed. Saifullah argued weight. So, I have realised that tively, and consult more widely. He must Canterbury have found a “one in a the leader asked them to dictate an “unofficial” against Rai. The high-tempered Rai stormed out it is all about honouring the never again rush unilaterally and without million” super-earth planet—both resolution of their intention to boycott. But he of the cabinet saying Saifullah and other officials body and not treating it with thought into decisions whose consequenc- size and orbit comparable to that of also asked them to pass an “official” resolution were chaprasis (peons). The top bureaucrats were guilt. es he has not anticipated. Earth—towards the centre of Milky that the chief minister alone will decide on liquor incensed and started a signature campaign. Vidya Balan, Ramachandra Guha, Way. The planet’s host star is about policy. Within an hour, Avtar Singh was back at Rao appointed a retired bureaucrat to hold an actor historian 10 per cent the mass of the sun. the side of the chief minister. However to keep inquiry; when the uproar died down, he dropped peace in cabinet, Avtar was divested of excise and Rai from the government. By then Saifullah, too, WORD PLAY taxation departments a day later. retired. In subsequent governments, food and civ- In several states, bureaucrats close to chief min- il supplies have been brought under one minister The Covid-19 pandemic has transformed the relationship status and family life of many. isters have caused resentment among ministers. to avoid policy clashes supporting the producer Reports from China suggest that covidivorces are soaring in the country, as the first wave of Covid-19 eased there. Covidivorce is a divorce initiated as a consequence of the couple spend- In Odisha and Bihar, chief ministers Nitish Kumar and the consumer. Amarinder Singh would find ing a long period of time together in lockdown during the pandemic. Seems like covidivorces and Naveen Patnaik have favoured such “super his own solution to the “high” dispute at the pin- also will not remain a problem limited to China. bureaucrats” with Rajya Sabha memberships. nacle of the Punjab government.

ILLUSTRATION BHASKARAN [email protected]

8 THE WEEK •MAY 24, 2020 MAY 24, 2020 • THE WEEK 9 APERITIF PARTY SNACKS

SPIRIT OF ENTERPRISE PRESENT AND FIGHT FOR On May 7, liquor shops in most OVERLOOKED of Tamil Nadu reopened. But Mizoram Chief Minister Pu REDEMPTION Zoramthanga cannot be During the Covid-19 pandemic, the tipplers in Chennai were disappointed as the shops in the blamed if he is feeling a the Gandhi siblings seem to be bit left out. During Prime focusing on Amethi. In an effort to metro remained closed. Those who tried to buy liquor from Minister Narendra Modi’s win the perception battle against videoconferences with MP Smriti Irani, Rahul has provided neighbouring districts found that the police were manning chief ministers, everyone the constituency with 70,000 except Zoramthanga masks, 20,000 sanitisers, 10,000 the district borders. But, that did not stop tipplers from trying to and the Tamil Nadu and soaps and ration. He also had a Kerala chief ministers videoconference with the local unit smuggle booze into Chennai. The cops stopped a car which speak in Hindi. The two of the party, where he inquired southern chief ministers do about the well-being of the people claimed to carry “essential commodities”. Strangely, all four not mind as they understand and said he would visit once the Hindi; they just respond in restrictions are lifted. Priyanka men in the car were wearing overcoats in the sweltering English. But, Zoramthanga does has offered to pay the travel fare not understand Hindi. So, how for migrants from Amethi and heat. On inspecting the driver’s overcoat, the cops found four does he cope? When his ministers Rae Bareli constituencies. A asked him what was discussed at political slugfest is in quarter-litre bottles concealed in the inside pockets. Sure enough, the latest videoconference, the jovial the offing, with the chief minister conceded: “I did not Congress running the other three, too, had stuffed the ‘essential commodity’ in understand a thing; they were all a social media talking in Hindi.” campaign saying their jackets. Irani has been busy playing Twitter antakshari during the lockdown.

ILLUSTRATIONS JAIRAJ T.G.

EVASIVE MANOEUVRE TRENDING TEACHERS FORCING THE HAND When Taiwan offered to gift one million The trolls are having a field day in Kerala Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav masks to India, combined with a request thanks to an order by the Kannur district Thackeray has finally been elected to sponsor the entry of the tiny nation— collector, deputing school teachers for to the legislative council. There which is at odds with China—into the supervision at ration shops. It was done to were a few tense moments when WHO, the external affairs ministry found ensure the proper distribution of ration to the the Congress decided to field two a diplomatic way out. As India does not deserving especially because more and more candidates. That would have taken deal with Taiwan on a government to people have been flocking to ration shops the total number of candidates to government basis, the state-funded Indian amid the lockdown. The trolls are celebrating 10 for the nine seats, necessitating Red Cross Society was asked to accept the order with memes based on scenes and voting by the 288 MLAs to choose the masks and allow photos to be taken. characters from Malayalam movies. the MLCs. The Shiv Sena wanted Taiwan was informed there would be Language teachers have been shown as the chief minister to be elected reciprocity through trade and industry, correcting the customers’ grammar and unopposed. When Thackeray came and not by immediately supporting its reciting poetry, while chemistry teachers to know about the Congress’s plan, WHO membership. Meanwhile, Taiwan’s refuse to dole out kerosene unless the he said that he would not contest anti-China government was happy with cardholder can tell its pH value. Not at all. It worked and the Congress this ‘deal’ as Taiwan’s goodwill gesture got surprisingly, mathematics teachers have been withdrew one candidate. publicity and mileage. targeted the most.

10 THE WEEK • MAY 24, 2020 MAY 24, 2020 • THE WEEK 11 MILITANCY JAMMU & KASHMIR

Dakki, Sharda, Rata Pani, Dudh- local outfits like The Resistance Front nial, Kasim-2 and Leepa Chham. and Tehreek-e-Millat-e-Islami have The ceasefire violations since last been floated to mislead the FATF and August were reportedly being used the international community, said an to infiltrate terrorists. Official records intelligence official. showed that there have been 17 “The irony is that while Pakistan ceasefire violations this year (one in cannot attain its objective of in- January, seven in February, three in ternationalising the Kashmir issue March and six in April). without giving up terrorism, India Latest intelligence inputs, accessed also cannot settle things in Kashmir by THE WEEK, revealed that the without winning over the people of launch pads housed 450 terrorists, of the state that has been downgraded which 380 were Pakistan nationals. to a Union territory,” Haqqani told It is also learnt that Bajwa visited THE WEEK. the Line of Control on April 30 to While the Modi government and take stock of the preparations and security forces are trying to win the weapons. hearts of Kashmiris through political

PTI Official sources say that most of and humanitarian efforts, Indian the terrorists have already made their Army Chief General M.M. Nara- BACK TO BAD DAYS (Left) Officers and soldiers carrying the way into Kashmir. According to latest vane said, “The onus remains with coffins of slain CRPF personnel; (above) inputs, there are around 240 ter- Pakistan to bring peace in the region. slain Hizbul Mujahideen commander rorists in Kashmir; 120 are Pakistan Unless Pakistan gives up its policy of Riyaz Naikoo nationals, with 60 each from the state-sponsored terrorism, we will Lashkar-e-Taiba and JeM. On May continue to respond appropriately 2, two militants engaged security and with precision.” Mufti Abdul Rauf Asghar, brother of forces for 12 hours in Handwara Intelligence reports revealed that AFP JeM founder Maulana Masood Azhar, in north Kashmir, resulting in the the Pakistan army has deployed in December. The commanders were killing of four Army personnel and a heavy artillery regiments close to the told that the government will ease police sub-inspector. Two days later, LoC and is not shying away from tar- restrictions on terror outfits. three CRPF personnel were killed in geting civilians. Their use of mortars Months later, when the world was another encounter in the same area. and artillery guns during ceasefire Summer of terror busy fighting Covid-19, Pakistan qui- While security forces avenged the violations is keeping Indian security etly removed around 1,800 terrorists Handwara horror by killing Hizbul forces on their toes. Indications are that Pakistan will continue to sponsor terrorism in from its watch-list. As the pandem- Mujahideen commander Riyaz However, the Indian Army has ic threatens to disrupt Pakistan’s Naikoo, it might not ensure a lull in chalked out a summer offensive. It Kashmir to keep the dispute alive internationally economic revival plans, Bajwa and violence in the Valley. has activated the anti-infiltration his men are desperate to succeed in “It is unlikely that Pakistan will give grid, which involves reoccupying BY NAMRATA BIJI AHUJA their military plans to safeguard the up using terrorism as an instrument posts along the LoC that were va- military budget. Recently, Pakistan’s of policy, and as long as that con- cated in winter owing to the heavy military spokesman tweeted that the tinues it will be difficult for India to snow. Local formation commanders THESE DAYS, PAKISTAN Army stan’s economy had been witnessing tackle the economic slowdown. The “voluntary cut” in the military budget maintain peace in the Valley,” said have been tasked to take the lead in Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa is a slump. There was pressure from the growing role of the military in the would not be at the expense of secu- Husain Haqqani, Pakistan’s former intelligence-based operations. While busy shuttling between the military Financial Action Task Force (FATF), country’s economic management be- rity. For a country that has long been ambassador to the US. the terrain makes it impossible to offices in Karachi, the country’s the global terror financing watchdog, came clear when the military issued using terrorism as an instrument of Security sources said that the ISI physically monitor and prevent infil- financial capital, and the army which put Pakistan on the grey list a statement after the meeting. state policy, it did not take too long to was sending terrorists from various tration, intelligence-based interdic- headquarters in Rawalpindi. The and threatened sanctions. At the National security was intimately put those plans into action. tanzeems (outfits) as a single group tion and real-time coordination with Covid-19 pandemic has not only hit same time, terror outfits were grow- linked to economy, said Bajwa, and to Intelligence reports revealed that to increase infiltration. A case in the police are proving to be effective. Pakistan’s economy but also turned ing desperate after India abrogated prosper, there should be a balance in a dozen launching pads were kept point was the encounter in Danger- While the resumption of internet international attention away from its Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir security needs and economic growth. active in Pakistan-occupied Kash- pora in which two terrorists, one and mobile services in Kashmir has favourite subject—Kashmir. Its army, on August 5, 2019. In Rawalpindi, Pakistan’s In- mir during winter to facilitate early from Hizbul and the other from JeM, provided security agencies with therefore, has taken centre stage to Last October, Bajwa met business ter-Services Intelligence met top entry of terrorists into the Valley. were killed. Also, keeping in line with good intelligence inputs, it has also meet the two challenges. leaders and government finance terror commanders like Jaish-e-Mo- The pads, reportedly, are: Halmatm, the Rawalpindi plan to underplay the helped terrorists communicate with Even before the pandemic, Paki- officials in Karachi to discuss ways to hammed’s operational commander Nekrum, Taobat, Suti, Ziarat, Sonar, “state support” in terror attacks, new their handlers in Pakistan. Another

12 THE WEEK • MAY 24, 2020 MAY 24, 2020 • THE WEEK 13 MILITANCY JAMMU & KASHMIR MANI-FESTO MANI SHANKAR AIYAR taker government in Gilgit-Baltistan and conduct provincial assembly elections. “In anticipation that a general election will pave way for the for- mation of a pro-Pakistani military Gujarat model of failure establishment, the doors to declare Gilgit-Baltistan the fifth province of the country through a parliamentary n May 9, The Indian Express carried two At this point, it would be useful to sit back bill will be wide open,” Mirza told apparently unrelated Covid-19 stories on and paraphrase the Delhi Police’s indictment of THE WEEK. He added that it was Oits front page. One reports the first infor- Maulana Saad, charged with “gathering around time for the Indian government to mation report filed by the Delhi Police against 2,000 people in a mosque” compared with gath- reclaim its territories from Pakistan. Maulana Muhammad Saad Kandhalvi, head of ering around 2,00,000 people in a stadium. Judge “It can only be done by bringing the the Tablighi Jamaat, under section 304 IPC—“cul- for yourself after looking to the timeline of the Pakistani military to the negotiating pable homicide not amounting to murder”—for commencement and spread of the pandemic: table,” he said. “allegedly going ahead with a gathering of around December 30, 2019: Dr Li Wenliang sounds And, New Delhi is upping the ante. 2,000 people at the mosque”. earliest warning of something seriously amiss in The Indian Meteorological Depart- The other, under the headline ‘Tracking India’s Wuhan, China. ment recently included Gilgit-Balti- Covid Curve’, says Gujarat has recorded 7,013 January 20, 2020: First confirmed case in the US stan and Muzaffarabad under PoK cases of Covid-19 infections, the second highest January 22, 2020: The World Health Organi- in its forecast list, a move that miffed in India after Maharashtra, higher even than zation delegation visits Wuhan and concludes Pakistan. “This is another mischie- Delhi and Tamil Nadu, the other badly affected that “human-to-human transmission” of virus is vous Indian action in support of a states. As the same chart gives the “doubling rate” taking place in the city. TRACING THE ROOTS spurious claim and further evidence in Gujarat as 12.38 days, by the January 26, 2020: President Hizbul Mujahideen militant Tanveer of India’s irresponsible behaviour,” time you get to read this column, Xi Jinping, at the highest level Ahmer Malik was arrested in a joint said Pakistan foreign ministry the number of Covid-19 cases in China, publicly confirms the operation by the Army and the Jammu spokesperson Aisha Farooqui in a in Gujarat would have topped world is now in the grip of a and Kashmir Police on May 5 PTI statement on May 8. 10,000 and be inching its way to- global horror not seen since the But as Taha Siddiqui, an wards 14,000. The same newspa- Spanish Flu of 1918-1919. award-winning Pakistani journalist per had reported on May 6 that January 30, 2020: The WHO challenge is the overground network tablishment is still licking its wounds living in exile in Paris since 2018, “Ahmedabad has approximately proclaims the outbreak as a that provides logistical support, from the diplomatic humiliation at said, India needs to look beyond this 70 per cent” of the state’s Cov- public health emergency of global safe houses, funds and weapons for the United Nations General Assem- summer as “the political and social id-19 cases. Add its sister-city of concern; first confirmed case in attacks. bly last September, as Khan failed to climate in the region has changed Gandhinagar, and one finds that India. “The counterterrorism response by garner any support against India’s since the abrogation of Article 370”. the twin cities account for some three-quarters of There were still 25 days to go for Namaste the Indian Army is not in isolation, decision to abrogate Article 370. “Today, Pakistan is increasingly Gujarat’s extraordinarily high rate of infection. Trump. Would not the prudent thing have been but an aggregation of capabilities New Delhi is also keenly watching focusing on exploiting the local Cut to Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar, February 24, to set an example to the whole world by calling of all agencies involved directly or the growing unrest in PoK. Home sentiments of the youth, especially 2020. Does anyone need reminding that on that off, or at least postponing, the proposed Motera indirectly. Options short of war are ministry sources said that the people those who feel alienated by Delhi’s day US President Donald Trump and his first lady tamasha? available to us to provide a befitting of PoK are appealing to the Indian recent steps,” he said. “Through landed at Ahmedabad expecting to be received Yet, Narendra Modi and Trump went ahead response to our adversaries,” said an government to intervene and safe- social media and internet, Pakistan by seven million cheering Modi-bhakts? That without heed to what would be the inevitable officer. guard their human rights. is brainwashing these youngsters, was a hallucination. Newspaper and TV reports outcome of such a huge gathering in the midst of Moreover, National Security Ad- “Under the guise of controlling the training them and providing funds of the welcome place the number of those lining a “global health emergency”. Indeed, Trump was viser Ajit Doval is not just watching law and order situation, the Pakistani and weapons.” the streets, pushing against each other, and cheek so aware that the US was in the thick of the dan- the developments in Karachi and army has decided to send heavy con- According to Siddiqui, be it sum- by jowl at around one lakh. When the Trumps ger zone that within 24 hours of his return to the Rawalpindi but also Islamabad. The tingents of troops to Gilgit-Baltistan,” mer or winter, Kashmir will continue eventually reached the Sardar Patel Stadium, White House, on February 25, he sent a request to recent appointment of Lt Gen (retd) said Dr Amjad Ayub Mirza, a human to boil until India aligns the interest the “world’s largest cricket stadium” at Motera, the US Congress for “emergency funds for corona- Asim Saleem Bajwa as information rights activist. Mirza, who hails from of the Kashmiri people with that of Ahmedabad, estimates of the crowd packing the virus response”. adviser to Pakistan Prime Minister Mirpur in PoK and now lives in exile the nation. Till then, Bajwa and his overflowing stadium (damn social distancing) So, is this “Gujarat model” the explanation for Imran Khan is being seen as a sign in the UK, expressed worry over military will continue to steer Paki- ranged from one lakh to 1.25 lakh plus uncounted Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar becoming one of the of the growing trust deficit between the April 30 order of the Supreme stan’s defence and foreign policies to tens of thousands milling around outside. reddest of red spots? the military establishment and the Court of Pakistan, which allowed the run its war economy. civilian government. The military es- federal government to set up a care- With Pradip Sagar ILLUSTRATION BHASKARAN Aiyar is a former Union minister and social commentator.

14 THE WEEK • MAY 24, 2020 MAY 24, 2020 • THE WEEK 15 KARNATAKA CONTROVERSY

tested to rule out Covid-19 before the ment measures. A Tanzeem member body is buried. The tehsildar banned who requested anonymity, points all private doctors from treating out some of the administration’s patients. A homeopathy doctor was failures: “Why did the taluk admin- MOUNTING caught after a taluk officer returning istration not track down people who TROUBLE from work saw a sick man on the availed medical emergency passes? Tanzeem road. He told the officer that he was The doctor who is under quarantine members being treated for fever and cough by ran the clinic in the heart of the with doctors outside the the doctor. Soon, the doctor and 121 town. Why did the police not shut hospital of his contacts were quarantined and it down earlier? Who stopped them their swabs collected. Meanwhile, from monitoring sale of over-the- locals claim the doctor is related to counter drugs?” He adds that pass the Bhatkal brothers. holders have been harassed at check Dr Mohammad Haneef Shabab, posts. Unani doctor and former general “The community is upset to hear secretary of the Majlis-e-Islah-o-Tan- that the 22 dead bodies will be zeem (highest religious body of Mus- exhumed for testing,” says Shabab . lims in the area) defends the doctor “We have locked burial grounds, but in quarantine saying that he is a vet- are against the deployment of beat eran who has earned the goodwill of constables. Will they deploy police at people from all communities. “Like the Hindu cremation grounds?” many across the world, he, too, might Sensing the trust deficit, district su- have fallen prey to a misinformation perintendent of police Shivaprakash campaign saying that Covid-19 is Devaraju, in his appeal to people gent containment measures in the harmless and is just like seasonal flu,” said that they should not take it as town. On May 6, BJP MP Anant Ku- says Shabab. “The Tanzeem is trying an insult if a sample is collected for mar Hegde went into a huddle with hard to change the mindset of people testing. Bhatkal MLA Sunil Naik, also Trust deficit senior officials in Bhatkal. After the and has released a video warning of the BJP, is a worried man. “The meeting, the administration sealed people about Covid-19.” cases are soaring and unless the A second wave of Covid-19 infections has created an air of the Madina Colony and divided the The saffron brigade suspects that people cooperate, the containment town into five zones. It withdrew the “lack of cooperation” is inten- of the virus is impossible,” he says. mistrust and reignited communal tensions in Bhatkal passes, deployed men and drones tional. Local BJP leader Govind Naik “[But,] I feel the people are slowly for surveillance and made arrange- says: “There was a sudden increase getting convinced that Covid-19 is a BY PRATHIMA NANDAKUMAR ments for door delivery of essentials. in the sale of fever, cough and cold real threat.” He says that the lack of Other safety measures included tablets. The cloth used for burial was Covid-19 testing facility in the district door-to-door Covid-19 screening being secretly sold from inside closed is affecting contact tracing and ON MAY 1, an 18-year-old woman shina Kannada district. P659’s elder global terrorist. These developments and the mandate that only govern- shops. There is no smoke without isolation. from a prominent Muslim business sister and brother-in-law had taken led to the scrutiny of the sleepy ment ambulances were allowed to fire. Local leaders also say that it Bhatkal, which witnessed commu- family in Bhatkal’s Madina Colony their son to the hospital in April; they coastal town by national intelli- ply. However, some steps were rather is difficult to track secret burials nal riots in 1993, and two high profile was rushed to the taluk hospital with were issued emergency passes by the gence and anti-terror agencies. The unusual. Like shutting down medical because the Tanzeem controls the murders of Hindu leaders—sitting high fever. Four days later, she (P659) district administration. At least two Navayath Muslim community (to shops and the deployment of two municipality.” MLA Dr U. Chittarajan (1996) and tested positive for Covid-19 and, people who visited the hospital in which the Bhatkal brothers belong) constables each at the three Muslim Shabab says the right-wing Thimmappa Naik (2004)—also saw subsequently, 27 of her primary and April had died of Covid-19. faced hostility. Navayaths are proud burial grounds. activists are wrongly blaming the the Tanzeem grow stronger and the secondary contacts tested positive. The second wave of Covid-19 cases of their Arab origins and preserve While Hegde refused to brief the Muslim community for the Covid-19 saffron brigade struggle to safeguard The sudden surge in Covid-19 cases paved the way for fresh commu- this link through trade and marriage. media, official sources confirmed outbreak. He says it was never the its political space. But, in recent has triggered panic as Bhatkal, in nal tensions and trust deficit. It The enterprising community control that the MP had sought a report practice to inform the administration times, the right-wing has returned Karnataka’s Uttara Kannada district, has happened before; caused by the local economy and real estate on 22 “suspicious deaths and quiet about deaths as soon as they hap- strongly, resulting in a silent power had been free of cases since the first the terror links of Iqbal and Riyaz and a majority of Hindus depend on burials” during the lockdown. He pened. “The dead are usually buried struggle with the Tanzeem. Now, 12—who had travelled to Dubai—re- Shahbandari—the infamous Bhat- them for livelihood. reportedly insisted that the health and it is reported in a day or two to Covid-19 has become a stimulus for ported in March. kal brothers—and terror convict Now, the “casual” response of the department should be notified about avail the death certificate,” he says. further polarisation; the hostilities P659’s infection might have Yasin Bhatkal (Mohammed Ahmed community to Covid-19 has upset every death. As per the new direc- Tanzeem members have voiced their have reached such a point that even originated in First Neuro hospital in Siddibappa). In 2017, Shafi Armar, other local communities, pushing the tions, the throat swab from the de- concern over “targeting of Muslims” relief and ration was distributed Mangaluru in the neighbouring Dak- another Bhatkal local was declared a district administration to take strin- ceased person is to be collected and under the guise of Covid-19 contain- selectively.

16 THE WEEK • MAY 24, 2020 MAY 24, 2020 • THE WEEK 17 ARMED FORCES CONTROVERSY

have percolated down through offi- move,” said Alagappa. cial channels as seen from the results At the academy, there is a in the academy. It does an injustice marked difference in the physical to women officers,” said Misra. standard requirements of men and An officer who was involved in women. For instance, while men training at OTA said the Army used need to complete a 2.4km-run in to have a separate criteria for phys- 10 minutes, women get 15 min- ical training of women cadets. “Up utes. In the battle physical efficien- until two years ago, women cadets cy test, ‘excellent timing’ for men is never used to fail on physical fitness 24 minutes and 40 seconds while grounds,” said the officer. “Generally, for women it is 31 minutes and male instructors are lenient with 30 seconds. “To clear the physical women cadets.” fitness test, women cadets get In response to THE WEEK’s query, multiple chances, including mercy the Army headquarters said there attempts. And the instructors are had always been variations in the more lenient with women cadets,” numbers of men and women cadets said an officer involved in training. being relegated on various grounds The Army headquarters, mean- such as medical reasons, discipline, while, clarified that no changes or not meeting academic or physical were made to the physical fitness standards. “These are due to inherent criteria of women cadets. It said variations in the physical fitness lev- significantly lower physical stand- els of the intake, different response of ards were set for women because human bodies to stress and training of the “employment differences” environment, academic pursuits in between men and women. The PTI an environment of higher stress.” - SYSTEM FAILURE Army headquarters, however, not The Army is downplaying But retired officers do not agree. ed that the outgoing batch at OTA the significance of the “Despite repeated rulings by the Chennai had close to 50 women Mean manoeuvre high failure rate of women courts, the top hierarchy of the Army cadets, which it said was “unusual”. cadets at OTA has never accepted women officers Downplaying the significance of and they are finding ways to prevent the high failure rate, it said the sit- women from going up the ladder,” uation was not alarming and that Retired officers blame the Army top brass women are likely to be withdrawn are suspicious about the timing of said Major (retd) Chhavi Saxena. She the failed cadets would be given from the academy, after failing to the mass failure and fear that it may also blamed poor training mech- adequate opportunities to prepare for the mass failure of women cadets at OTA clear the training course in two be linked to the Supreme Court’s anisms at OTA for the failure of wom- for and pass the applicable physi- Chennai, which came soon after women terms. Every cadet gets a maximum landmark judgment on February 17 en cadets. cal and academic benchmarks. of two chances to complete the making women officers eligible for Maj (retd) Asha Shinde Alagappa, An officer, however, told THE were allowed permanent commission training. permanent commissions and com- a fourth generation officer, said there WEEK that the unusual failure “It is an aberration and a matter mand posts. After a long legal battle, was no difference in the training rates at OTA was indeed influ- BY PRADIP R. SAGAR of serious concern,” said Lieutenant women officers are now on par with imparted to female officers. “At the enced by the Supreme Court General (retd) Bobby Mathew, who male officers in matters of promo- academy, men and women are treat- verdict. “We also get affected by was commandant of OTA Chennai. tions, benefits and pensions. ed equally in everything, including what is happening outside,” he THE PASSING OUT parade at allowed to serve in the military “Normally, relegation is way below Capt (retd) Shweta Misra, who their haircuts. All cadets pass physi- said. “The Supreme Court verdict Officers Training Academy (OTA) through Short Service Commission 10 per cent of a batch and that, too, served in the Army Ordnance Corps, cal fitness tests and people are rele- came barely a week before the Chennai in March was marred by an (SSC) at OTA, they have nearly mostly happens with gentlemen said the Army was trying to change gated only on medical or disciplinary mercy attempts at OTA. There unusually high failure rate of women always cleared their physical tests— cadets. Women cadets usually fail on its standards after losing the legal grounds.” She said the government was chest-thumping on television cadets. The number of women cadets except last year, when three cadets medical or disciplinary grounds.” battle. “After the verdict, we have was spending nearly one lakh rupee channels by women officers with failing the physical tests went up failed the mandatory tests. However, There are 1,550 women officers seen statements from senior officers a month on a cadet and the relega- an arrogance that they were no less soon after the Supreme Court ruled in the last OTA batch, at least 13 in the Indian Army. And the ratio of including Chief of Defence Staff tions were a huge loss to the excheq- competent than their male col- in favour of permanent commis- women failed the horizontal rope lady cadets admitted to those passing General Bipin Rawat that standards uer. “The Army is already short of leagues. They said they underwent sion to female officers in the armed test, while three others could not out is approximately 1:0.99, accord- of women officers would have to officers and if we do such things, it is similar training like us. It might forces. complete their 5km running task. ing to Army headquarters. Many be brought on par with men if they very unfortunate. I am sure the top have changed the mindsets of the Since 1992, when women were And, perhaps for the first time, two serving and retired women officers wanted to be treated equally. It must hierarchy of the Army is behind this instructors.”

18 THE WEEK • MAY 24, 2020 MAY 24, 2020 • THE WEEK 19 CONTROVERSY AAROGYA SETU APPARENT FLAWS Bridge over Data will stay on your device for 30 days and 45 days in the server if you are not at risk; if Aarogya Setu you are at risk, or if you are a Covid-19 patient, it is stored for 60 days after treatment or discharge eeloped b from quarantine troubled water ational normatics entre aunched on pril or Aarogya Setu raises troubling questions app fetched the user’s location and ndroid and i Information stored in an option that enabled users to government server T about the future of privacy and civil rights SERER change latitude, longitude and radius 100 million+ in Covid-struck India parameters to get statistics from downloads as o a different locations. “The privacy of 90 The app comes in BY K. SUNIL THOMAS has been making are not all good. million Indians is at stake,” Baptiste TAT “Aarogya Setu is a sophisticated said. lanuae12 s When two smartphones that have surveillance system with no institu- Ravi Shankar Prasad, Union min- Aarogya Setu are within bluetooth SUDHEER, an artist, lives in Bagh- tional oversight, raising serious data ister of electronics and information range, they exchange information. If one of the two people has ban apartments in Delhi’s northern security and privacy concerns,” Con- technology, soon issued a denial. IT RS tested positive, the app will alert suburb of Rohini. The apartment gress leader Rahul Gandhi said on He said the app was “absolutely the other. It also allows the The app allows user compound was declared a contain- May 2, a day after the Union govern- robust, safe and secure in terms of government to trace potential cases to view stats within ment zone and sealed off after a ment made the app mandatory for privacy protection and data security”. a 10km radius couple there contracted Covid-19 people in containment zones and all Authorities also released a six-page and died on May 4. The couple’s chil- government and private employees document detailing measures taken dren were quarantined, but their test who were preparing to return to work to protect privacy. It said every user results were yet to come in. after the lockdown was eased on May was assigned a “random anonymous A worried Sudheer downloaded 4. “Technology can help keep us safe; device ID” and that all info from us- REISTRATI Aarogya Setu (‘bridge to health’), a but fear must not be leveraged to ers were deleted after a specific time. Once a user sets up his account the app asks for location data mobile app developed by the govern- track citizens without their consent,” Location data was used only “in case and continuous bluetooth access As long as GPS is on, ment to trace the spread of Covid-19 said Rahul. you test positive, and only to map you will be tracked and alert users when and if their A few days later, French ethical places visited in the past 14 days,” Asks for information like age, gender, name, health status and contacts test positive. He walked hacker Robert Baptiste, known as said the document. countries the user has been to in the around the compound to test the Elliot Alderson on social media, The app is being aggressively past few weeks app. But, even when Sudheer was in exposed what he said to be a series promoted. Some states have made the area where the couple had died, of security flaws in the app. This it mandatory for those who want SELFASSESSMET Aarogya Setu displayed his status in related to the number of times the to cross inter-state boundaries. The user has to declare his travel happy, verdant letters—‘You are safe.’ Authorities in Noida have ordered history and whether he has any “Many neighbours also got the same that anyone found without the app Covid-19 symptom result,” he said. “What is the point of in a public place be fined 01,000 or If you are a doctor, the app will this app then?” jailed for six months. The IT depart- ask whether you have been near Covid-19 patients Sudheer’s story gives ammunition The app is ment in Tamil Nadu has asked all to supporters and critics of Aarog- being aggressively government employees to download ya Setu. The critics call it a tool for promoted. Some the app, while Indian Railways has ERS government surveillance, while made it compulsory for passengers Ambiguous privacy policy and security practices supporters say the lack of complete boarding special trains. states have made Not clear whether it is compliant with the Information Technology Act, coverage—less than 10 per cent of it mandatory for But the push is not backed by any 2000, and IT Rules, 2011 the population have the app—is what ordinance or legislation. The order Not clear what it does with the data that is collected every 15 minutes and is limiting its efficacy. those who want to making Aarogya Setu mandatory was is stored in the server. There are fears that the app will become a perfect Since its launch on April 2, Aaro- cross inter-state issued by an executive committee tool for surveillance gya Setu has been the government’s constituted under the provisions of The app keeps its source code secret, which is not considered advisable de facto tech tool against Covid-19. boundaries. the 2005 National Disaster Manage- It has been downloaded more than ment Act, which gives the Union 100 million times, but the news it government sweeping powers and GRAPHICS SREEMAIAA S

20 THE WEEK • MAY 24, 2020 MAY 24, 2020 • THE WEEK 21 CONTROVERSY AAROGYA SETU PMO BEAT R. PRASANNAN has been in force since the lockdown began. Justice B.N. Srikrishna, head of the committee that sub- mitted a draft data protection bill last year, said the notifications making Aarogya Setu compulsory was “not backed by law”. Blundering in the Himalayas Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF), a Del- hi-based digital liberties NGO, has taken the matter to the parliamentary committee on IT, headed by f there is one poem that all diplomats should be work under the defence ministry, have been busy Congress MP Shashi Tharoor. “[There is a] lack of made to read, it is Robert Frost’s Mending Wall. as bees. Wanting to do their bit for our pilgrims’ clear basis or legislative framework for contact-trac- IIt is about a wall that ran between the poet’s progress to Kailash-Mansarovar, they have been ing apps such as Aarogya Setu,” said Sidharth Deb, apple orchard and his neighbour’s pine farm. The building a shortcut at 17,000ft from Dharchula in the IFF’s policy and parliamentary counsel. “[It is a] rubble on the wall often came loose in winter, and Uttarakhand to Lipulekh on the Tibet border. Not privacy minefield.” the neighbour insisted on mending it every spring. only did they build much of the road, but also got According to him, Aarogya Setu “by design is Frost may have inspired our first prime minister their minister Rajnath Singh to e-open it on May 8. aligned with the Chinese model of surveillance, Jawaharlal Nehru with his “miles to go” lines, but Hardly had Rajnath signed out of the weblink which is in clear contravention of existing human from Mending Wall, it appears he was as lazy as when all hell broke loose in Kathmandu. The road rights benchmarks”. “India is the only democratic a toad. He just could not fathom why the wall has been built through our land, protested Nepal’s country in the world to make its app mandatory,” had to be kept intact. After all, “my apple trees Foreign Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali. He he said. (The UK’s House of Commons does not rec- will never get across, and eat the cones under summoned the new Indian ambassador, Vinay ommend the use of such apps, while countries like his pines.” Neither of them had cows that would Mohan Kwatra, and gave him an earful. That was Australia have not made their use mandatory.) stray into the other’s farm. Yet, quite an affront, especially Though Aarogya Setu was released by the Nation- the neighbour insisted and since some of Kwatra’s al Informatics Centre, the government calls its de- doggedly repaired the wall predecessors had behaved velopment a “public-private” partnership. The IFF every year, always saying “good much like viceroys, as former says the IT ministry’s response to queries regarding fences make good neighbours.” foreign secretary Jagat Mehta the app has been rather vague. “For example, the India has been a bit like had admitted once. source code is not open-source and there is a lack of Frost—neglecting the work on For all we know, the clarity on contract conditions and service rules for our boundaries. And Nepal Nepalis may be seeing ghosts volunteers developing it,” said Deb. has been like the neighbour— where there are none. The NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant said Aarogya Setu insisting on mending them. Or road may actually be running was India’s attempt to leverage technology to fight so it seems from what Nepali through our apple orchard, Covid-19. “The app is privacy-first by design,” he diplomats say. and not their pine farm. Even said. India and Nepal have been good friends most of so, should we not have, as a good neighbour and Kazim Rizvi, founder of the think tank The Dia- the time (except on rare occasions such as when the bigger of the two, convinced the Nepalis of logue and co-chair (public policy) of the Indian Na- Hrithik Roshan opens his mouth, or S. Jaishankar that? tional Bar Association, said the use of Aarogya Setu dictates articles of other people’s constitutions). Now the South Block says, we will talk after the was warranted. “Real-time response mechanisms Like all good neighbours all over the world, the two lockdown is lifted. But the Nepalis are not listening. require real-time insights,” he said. He pointed out countries have been having minor border brawls They are thinking of sending armed guards to the that even the Supreme Court’s landmark judgment on occasions—mainly over the Kalapani issue that disputed stretch. in 2017 that made privacy a fundamental right had is now more than two centuries old. But the feud A minor crisis! But one that could have been provisions to limit the scope of privacy. “The judge- rarely came in the way of trade, travel or even troop avoided. ment lays down three key tests to reasonably restrict recruitment of Nepali Gorkhas into the Indian Tailpiece: The first European who explored privacy—necessity, proportionality and legality.” Army. Mansarovar, William Moorcroft, had also taken Rizvi’s suggestion: Bring an ordinance or legisla- During his 2014 visit to Kathmandu, Prime the Uttarakhand route. He travelled all across the tion to “give a stronger legal footing to the use of this Minister Narendra Modi agreed with his Himalayas, often in disguise, in the early 1800s, application”. counterpart Sushil Koirala that their foreign seeking good horses for the East India Company Deb, however, wants people to wake up to the secretaries would “work on outstanding boundary and pashmina goats to be taken to England. dangers of letting it happen. “The public must un- issues, including Kalapani and Susta”. The Nepalis But he blundered in his pashmina venture. derstand that if they do not speak up, these systems say they have since been asking for a date, but Having bought hundreds of goats, he shipped the can become permanent; they cannot be rolled back Indian diplomats have been dragging their feet. he-goats in one ship and the she-goats in another. at a later juncture,” he said. “[We] must tell the gov- Meanwhile, our border road-builders, who Sadly, the ship with the she-goats sank. ernment that it cannot have carte blanche access to ILLUSTRATION BHASKARAN [email protected]

BHANU PRAKASH CHANDRA our private lives.”

22 THE WEEK • MAY 24, 2020 MAY 24, 2020 • THE WEEK 23 MAHARASHTRA POLITICS

MOVING FORWARD Risk and Uddhav Thackeray return Undeterred by the challenges posed by Covid-19, Uddhav Thackeray shows that he is a savvy political operator

BY DNYANESH JATHAR AND POOJA BIRAIA JAISWAL

ON MAY 11, while speaking at Prime ration) has chosen its own testing Minister Narendra Modi’s videocon- criteria, turning down the protocol ference, Maharashtra Chief Minister laid down by the Indian Council of Uddhav Thackeray asked the Centre Medical Research. This will not only to take a cautious approach while show a false decrease in the number lifting the nationwide lockdown. of cases, but also spread the infection With the number of Covid-19 cases rapidly,” said health care activist Dr nearing 25,000 and deaths crossing Amol Annadate. “The BMC is not GETTY IMAGES 800, Maharashtra continues to be recording Covid-19 deaths which the worst-hit state in the country and are related to comorbidities like Uddhav does not want to take any renal diseases, diabetes, cancer and disease burden," said Anant Bhan, proving himself to be a savvy political A senior Congress legislator pressed. Madhav Bhandari, chief chances. heart disease. This will lead to an 85 researcher on global health. Dr Om operator. When his chief minis- said Uddhav’s popularity re- spokesperson for the party, said the Over 60 per cent of the cases are in per cent decrease in the number of Shrivastav, infectious diseases expert tership was under threat after his mained unaffected because the people were frustrated. “The govern- Mumbai, followed closely by Pune deaths as maximum deaths are from and a member of Maharashtra’s Cov- election to the legislative council ran vocal middle class was not affect- ment announced the other day that it and Thane. Dr Pradip Awate, state comorbid conditions.” id-19 task force, said the numbers into trouble, Uddhav did not hesitate ed much by the pandemic. “Most was starting transport service to send disease surveillance officer, said the The Maharashtra government is al- would stay high for a while before it to call up Modi for help. The gamble cases are coming from slums and people to their home districts,” he very nature of the Mumbai-Pune- ready under pressure with the Union starts getting better. "It is a new virus worked and the chief minister is all low income colonies. The middle said. “But the decision was reversed Thane triangle, had made it vulnera- government reprimanding it for the and it is tricky to know how it will set to enter the upper chamber on class, which lives in apartment overnight. People were not informed ble. "Mumbai, the country’s econom- rising number of active cases inside behave. We should not be focusing May 21. Uddhav shunted out BMC complexes, is by and large unaf- and they flocked to bus stands in ic capital, witnesses a high volume of the containment zones in Mumbai on numbers,” said Shrivastav. commissioner Pardeshi after the fected.” But he has not completely large numbers.” Bhandari said such interstate and international move- and for not following its directives Another problem that hurts Maha- Union health ministry reportedly ex- forgotten the poor. When Cov- flip-flops angered people and the BJP ment. It has a population density of about contact tracing and door-to- rashtra’s fight against the pandemic pressed dissatisfaction over his han- id-19 began spreading rapidly, was not protesting only because it 20,000 people per square kilometre, door surveillance. On his first day in is the acute shortage of health care dling of the pandemic. He demanded he brought down the rates of the was a responsible opposition. with a huge proportion of them living office, Iqbal Singh Chahal, who on professionals. Resident doctors strict action against senior IPS officer popular Shiv Bhojan meal from Senior political analyst Prakash in slums. So the high numbers are May 8 replaced Praveen Pardeshi as and even MBBS students are being Amitabh Gupta for allowing con- 010 to 05. “Uddhav’s entire mes- Akolkar said Uddhav’s image as a not surprising.” BMC commissioner, emphasised the pushed to the frontlines. "I am only a troversial businessmen Kapil and saging is focused on conveying moderate, mild mannered person Critics say there are frequent importance of ramping up testing. second-year student and I have been Dheeraj Wadhawan, who are facing facts to people and urging them had helped him so far. “People think flip-flops in testing protocols and Some officials and public health -ex assigned to treat Covid-19 patients. I probe in the Yes Bank scam, to travel to follow the measures initiated of him as an elder brother in the fam- in procedures for reporting deaths. perts believe that the rising number sometimes do not know what to do," despite lockdown restrictions. Gupta by the government. Teamwork ily. But it will not help him for long,” Mumbai now tests only sympto- of cases is the result of increased said a junior resident. was sent on compulsory leave and among three alliance partners— said Akolkar. “Uddhav’s speeches matic patients and high-risk cases, testing. “As testing is increased, with The mounting troubles, however, an inquiry was ordered against him. the Shiv Sena, the NCP and the have started sounding empty. He saying it helps in better utilisation of follow-up contact tracing, more cases have not affected Uddhav’s popular- In both cases, Uddhav was keen to Congress—has also improved,” needs to keep bureaucrats under manpower and resources. “The BMC are being reported, and we may be ity. He has made it clear that it is not send across a strong message to the said the Congress legislator. control and show them who is the (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corpo- getting a truer picture of the actual the time to play politics, even while bureaucracy. The BJP, however, is not im- boss.”

24 THE WEEK • MAY 24, 2020 MAY 24, 2020 • THE WEEK 25 WORLD BRAZIL RACE OF DEATH The pandemic has brought to the fore Brazil’s own brand of apartheid

BY JENNIFER ALISA SANDERS

WHERE ANGELS DARE Nurses wearing protective face masks participate in a protest with signs bearing the names of health care professionals who died of Covid-19 in Brasilia REUTERS

26 THE WEEK • MAY 24, 2020 MAY 24, 2020 • THE WEEK 27 WORLD BRAZIL

health care system, which is used DISASTROUS MANAGEMENT mostly by poor Brazilians. “As the C-19 C N N B virus spreads to the outlying, poorer regions, the death rate will be much Feb March April May higher because it is going to join other epidemics like dengue fever and chikungunya and conditions ASES like high blood pressure, diabetes First case and malnutrition. Putting all these 1,50,000 together, you can see the situation of the poor, black population,” says 1,00,000 Silvio Humberto, city councilman in Salvador, and professor of econom- ics at the State University of Feira 50,000 de Santana. “Covid-19 has come to make a grave situation of social vulnerability worse. The city of Sal- 0 vador is cited in poetry and prose for its enchantment and physical beauty. But the pandemic has come DEATHS First to show us that Salvador has gained 12,000 death the title, not of the city of music, but of the city of the poor.” 9,000 Slavery in Brazil lasted from the

AFP 1530s till May 14, 1888. But after 6,000 their emancipation, the victims of 3,000 UNMASKING THE REALITY slavery were left to fend for them- ats did not bring downs, illness, death and economic African descendants in Brazil selves by doing precarious, informal are hit hard by the pandemic, 0 Covid-19 to Brazil, collapse, Covid-19 has thrown us work, such as sharecropping or which has thrown light on racial the deadly virus off a cliff and into the chasm that is hard labour. At the same time, Euro- inequalities in the country Jair Bolsonaro, came through the Brazil’s great social, economic and pean immigrants were offered land president, Brazil noses, lungs and racial divide—our peculiar brand of and free passage in exchange for ag- throats of revellers tropical apartheid. average is 56 per cent. Most of them ricultural work. The result is that the So what Im sorr eager for the Car- I am not Brazilian. I am an African live in poverty, and they are seeing south and southeast of Brazil, where What do ou want me to do When asked about increasing nival. It was carried American singer who fell in love with the highest mortality rates. Covid-19 the European immigrants settled, deaths This cannot be a numbers game to faour political by upper-class Brazilians who had this amazing country and moved has no racial or economic divide. became more white, accumulating interests the means to escape to Milan, Aspen here two decades ago. I live in what There is simply the opportunity for and distributing more wealth, while n ao aulos death toll seeming too large Bor Rome during the world’s biggest many refer to as “Black Rome”, the transmission and infection in the the north and northeast contin- street festival. The arrival of the virus city of Salvador in the state of Bahia. midst of poverty, malnutrition, dense ued to be locked in a slavocracy was not a surprise as we watched Brazil received 40 per cent of all population and lack of sanitation. with most of the land owned and the news from Wuhan and YouTube Africans who were enslaved and As of May 11, the Brazilian ministry controlled by descendants of the name is essiah But I videos of abandoned Italian streets, shipped as cargo to North America, of health has reported 1,62,699 beneficiaries of the Portuguese land cant wor miracles n reference to his second wondering if local governments the Caribbean and South America to confirmed cases of Covid-19 with grants who maintained the racial, name essias would cancel the Carnival this year. provide the free labour that created 10,627 deaths. But researchers say class and economic disparities of They did not, and this country of 211 great wealth for European merchants the actual numbers will be 12-15 slavery. Humberto says the virus You cant stop a car factor million saw more than 27 million and nobles. This, unfortunately, is times higher. The Brazilian public has only revealed the tip of the because of traffic deaths efending BrailCannottop people, from across Brazil and the the story of the whole “New World”. health system has 2.62 beds for every iceberg. “We had poverty, informal You see people umping into sewage And nothing world, take to its packed streets for As Brazil’s first capital, Salvador one lakh inhabitants. Most of the labour and people scraping for a happens seven days. And that is how Brazil, and the surrounding rich farmland beds are in the big cities, leaving the living doing whatever they could Claiming Brailians never now projected to be the epicentre of received huge numbers of enslaved countryside at a big risk. Last week in the streets, doing their hustle. catch anthing the pandemic, became our collective Africans. Today, their descendants saw a 22 per cent increase in deaths Families sustained themselves this SOUR BRAILIAN HEALTH INISTRY nightmare. Added to the challenges make up roughly 82 per cent of the and if the numbers continue to rise, way. Now the streets are closed off,” every country is facing with lock- city’s population, while the national the pandemic will break the national he says. GRAPHICS SREEANIANDAN SRESEARCH ARTHI RAINDRANATHILLUSTRATION JB

28 THE WEEK • MAY 24, 2020 MAY 24, 2020 • THE WEEK 29 WORLD BRAZIL

Doranei Alves, an Afro-Brazilian mask even at rallies where he shakes Humberto says there have been social worker who lives in Salvador’s hands and hugs his supporters. He numerous examples of solidarity São Caetano neighbourhood, says even planned a big barbecue at the and brotherhood across the coun- the situation is dire. “There is a huge presidential palace on the day when try. “The pope was right, there is no street fair where everything—from deaths from the pandemic crossed salvation individually. Salvation has shoes to tea and natural herbs to 10,000 in Brazil. It was cancelled to be collective and we have to be fruits—is sold. Imagine what is finally following widespread protests very careful about returning to the happening to the people who make and the threat of a lawsuit. so-called ‘normal’ like it was before,” their living from this. This money For Bolsonaro, the pandemic has he says. “We need change, not just in pays for their food each day. With the provided a convenient cover for the economy, which has been turned pandemic, everything has stopped. rolling back land rights of indige- on its head. The economy cannot be The media says ‘stay home and use a nous peoples and Afro-Brazilian the be-all and end-all. It should serve mask’. But people need to eat. Money quilombos—homesteads where society. We have to be liberated from from the government is taking a long descendants of escaped slaves and this hegemony of financial capital. time to come. Many people have not indigenous people have lived for It is going to be difficult, but we gotten it yet.” hundreds of years. Decree MP910 cannot keep having money generat- As a musician who is out of work signed by Bolsanaro is before the ing more money to the detriment of because of the lockdown, I am not Congress, and once approved, it will everything, of the people. The people rich by any means. But the fact that allow loggers, wildcat miners and need to be the beginning, the middle I can stay home, alone, and live on farmers to lay claim to protected land and the end.” money I have saved means that I am reserves in the Amazon, traditionally The newfound solidarity has given privileged. In many communities, inhabited by indigenous Brazilians. hope to millions. Marcia Marciel, a people are weighing the risk of get- It has emboldened them to invade social worker from the neighbour- ting infected against the need to feed land and kill indigenous leaders hood of São João do Cabrito, says their children. “People cannot afford even as they spread Covid-19 among volunteers in the neighbourhood to stay at home anymore,” says Alves. indigenous people with no immu- have decided to create a chain of “They have returned to street fairs nity or access to hospitals. Ivaneida solidarity. “The solidarity has multi- and have started selling their prod- Bandeira of the NGO Kanindé says plied,” says Marciel. “I hope that this ucts again. This reveals how much the pandemic is being used as a cov- chain will continue to remain even inequality is there in Brazil. Mothers er by the president and corporations when this is over.” go crazy when there is no food for involved in agro-business, logging Alves says there was solidarity their children.” and mining. when he was growing up. “It is still The combination of financial, Humberto, however, sees an op- present, even though today capital- mental and emotional stress has portunity for change in the ongoing ism separates people and encour- led to increased domestic violence the president as an example and crisis. “With so much uncertainty, ages individualism. But still, if you and also defiance that contributes are going against the recommenda- we have an opportunity to stir things need some flour, it is your neighbour to the spread of the virus. “Women tions. These men are going to play up,” he says. “We have a non-gov- who will help you”, she says. “As the are going crazy because of domes- football, even though they know ernment. The president goes against wheels of the government turn slowly tic violence. This affects children that they are putting their families science, against the 10,000 deaths. in response to the pandemic, com- and their development,” says Alves. at risk. They are going to bars. They While our country is mourning, the munity organisations are providing “Many old people are at home alone. are trying to show defiance through president is jet skiing. This shows for the residents using their own Family members used to visit them their actions. The fight against the how insensitive, ignorant and incom- resources and money donated from every day and now they cannot visit. virus is also an ideological and petent the president is. He does not friends, colleagues and others who Physical contact is very important. It political fight.” resolve problems, but creates crisis feel that we have a shared responsi- is hard when you are deprived of it.” Bolsonaro, however, insists that on top of crisis. But the light in this bility to provide for those in need.” While the fear of getting sick has Covid-19 is just a cold and says Bra- crisis is the empowerment that soli- Humberto believes it is going to forced many people to comply with zilians could “swim in excrement darity has brought to the Afro-Brazil- be a new beginning. “This is not just the norms of social distancing, others and still emerge unscathed”. He says ian communities.” about Covid,” he says. “It is a vision of are rebelling, following the example his priority is the Brazilian econo- an African Utopia, an evolution and a of Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro. my, not Brazilian lives. He questions new view.” “There is a group that defends the scientists who oppose his opinions, DIFFICULT TIMES president and the majority of them rails at the press coverage of the The poor in Brazil has been The author is an African American particularly vulnerable to Covid-19 are men,” says Alves. “They are using pandemic and refuses to wear a AP PHOTOS singer settled in Brazil.

30 THE WEEK • MAY 24, 2020 MAY 24, 2020 • THE WEEK 31 WORLD BRAZIL FAR RIGHT, FAR WRONG Critics say the biggest threat to Brazil’s fight against Covid-19 is its president, Jair Bolsonaro

BY R. VISWANATHAN

ovid-19 cases in Brazil are grow- ing at an alarm- ing rate, with the number of deaths crossing 11,000 front of a bullet-riddled target, say- as on May 10. ing, “Pretty good, eh?” But for President Brazil faces a shortage of venti- Jair Messias Bolsonaro, it is all a lators, masks and other essential big joke. “My name is Messiah. But items. But it hardly bothers Bolson- CI cannot work miracles,” he said. aro. He is more worried about the While presidents of other coun- Hearing about the mounting death shortage of guns in Brazil. When tries are meeting scientists and toll, he responded with supreme governors are scrambling to get doctors for advice on dealing with indifference, “So what? What do you ventilators, Bolsonaro wants to see the virus, Bolsonaro had an unusual want me to do?” more guns. Last month, he shut guest on May 4. He received at the AFP In most countries, presidents and down a military project that sought presidential palace Lieutenant prime ministers visit hospitals to to use blockchain technology to Colonel (retd) Sebastião Curió FINAL JOURNEY comfort victims and support the track guns and other weapons. Rodrigues de Moura, a notorious The Nossa Senhora cemetery in Manaus medical staff. But not Bolsonaro. The public prosecutor’s office is assassin who killed several left-wing has seen a surge in the number of new He was recently seen at a shooting investigating the constitutionality of guerrillas in the Araguaia region graves after the outbreak of Covid-19 range, grinning at the cameras in this move. when Brazil was under military

32 THE WEEK • MAY 24, 2020 MAY 24, 2020 • THE WEEK 33 WORLD BRAZIL

dictatorship (1964-1985). sons and allies for murder, money further after Eduardo criticised the As Covid-19 infections grow expo- laundering and disinformation absence of democracy and transpar- nentially, mass graves are being dug campaigns on social media. Jus- ency in China and also its handling of in cities like Manaus, where a large tice minister Sérgio Moro resigned the Covid-19 pandemic. The Chinese number of indigenous people have recently after publicly accusing the embassy in Brasilia made a scathing lost their lives. The mayor of Manaus president of criminal obstruction of counterattack, saying the president’s was in tears describing the acute justice. The supreme court subse- son had contracted a “mental virus” shortage of coffins, medicines and quently vetoed the appointment of while he was in the United States. equipment. Unable to get Bolson- the new police chief and ordered an “Sadly, you are a person without aro’s attention, indigenous leaders investigation on the basis of Moro’s any international vision or common have approached the World Health charges. The president has now pro- sense. We suggest you don’t rush to Organisation and even climate activ- posed another family friend to the become the US spokesman in Brazil,” ist Greta Thunberg. Millions of poor, post. The association of the members said a statement by the embassy. The mostly Afro-Brazilians, live in the of the federal police has written to sharp reaction prompted some state favelas (slums) of Rio de Janeiro and Bolsonaro to “keep the constitu- governors and exporters to apologise São Paulo without adequate water tionally-required distance” and not to the Chinese ambassador, espe- and sanitation facilities. Even the interfere in the day-to-day work of cially as they have been hoping to drug-trafficking gangs have started the police to maintain objectivity and procure masks, protective gear and helping them, but not Bolsonaro. The public confidence. ventilators from China. president has ignored WHO advice Last year, Bolsonaro had tried to Bolsonaro’s ministers, however, on Covid-19, but has targeted the make his third son, Eduardo, Brazil’s are competing with each other to im- world body, saying it promotes mas- ambassador to the US, saying ‘Edu- press the boss with their own incen- turbation and homosexuality among ardo and President Donald Trump’s diary statements. Foreign Minister children. sons are friends’. But Eduardo had Ernesto Araújo wrote that Covid-19 The president has not been sup- to withdraw his candidacy following “could be a global project to trans- portive of officials who have been widespread protests against such form the world into a concentration working hard to tackle the pandemic. blatant nepotism. camp and impose communism via He has sparked protests by sacking Besides polarising the country with the ‘comunavirus’”. Education Minis- his popular health minister, Luiz his hate-speech, the Bolsonaro clan ter Abraham Weintraub tweeted that Henrique Mandetta, after repeated continues to burn bridges with the the pandemic would serve Chinese

clashes over handling of the crisis. AFP world. He had insulted the wife of interests. In his tweet in Portuguese, According to a study by the Univer- French President Emmanuel Macron he substituted the letter ‘r’ in ‘Brazil’ sity of São Paulo, Brazil may already FAN BASE and made disparaging remarks with ‘L’ so that it read ‘BLazil’, a style have the most number of Covid-19 Covid-19 because of their supreme Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro prosecutors are investigating fake against President Alberto Fernández used to mock Chinese accents. The cases in the world. But testing is min- physical fitness. Bolsanaro once said, and his daughter Laura pose for news campaigns of the Bolsonaros. of Argentina, Brazil’s neighbour and Chinese ambassador called Wein- imal in the country due to the lack of “Brazilians could swim in excrement a selfie with supporters outside The president does not even spare most important regional partner. traub a racist and the supreme court Planalto Palace in Brasilia federal government support. Bolson- and still emerge unscathed”. He even the Congress and the judiciary. He He had provoked China, Brazil’s top has ordered an investigation into the aro continues to downplay Covid-19, launched a #BrazilCannotStop cam- routinely incites his followers to export destination, by visiting Taiwan minister’s action. calling it a “simple cold” and a paign which asked people to get back lawsuit, he called the news about the shout slogans in favour of military during his presidential campaign. Critics fear that the Bolsonaro “fantasy” and “hysteria” promoted to work and normal life. The move barbecue fake, blamed journalists, dictatorship. The attorney general is Sino-Brazilian relations deteriorated administration has managed to undo by the media to weaken his govern- was banned by a federal judge. and was seen riding a jet ski on Lake investigating one such case of sloga- in less than 16 months the excellent ment. Such talk clearly misleads and At least 20 officials of the Bol- Paranoá. He stopped to chat with a neering outside the army headquar- work done by Brazilian diplomats confuses the general population. sanaro administration, including group of people who were barbecu- ters when Bolsonaro was present. over the past two decades. Bolsan- He criticises the lockdown imposed national communications chief Fabio ing on a speedboat. The defence ministry issued a Bolsonaro attacks aro has shocked the world with his by state and municipal authorities Wajngarten and National Security Bolsonaro attacks journalists statement on May 4 saying the armed bigotry on several issues, including and calls social distancing measures Minister Augusto Heleno, have tested day in and day out, often using the forces were dedicated to their consti- journalists day in global environmental concerns. Bra- imposed by governors and mayors positive for Covid-19, but the presi- language of street thugs. Following tutional mission and democracy. and day out, often zil today stands completely isolated as “crime”. He goes around shak- dent scoffs at preventive measures. his cue, his supporters have even For Bolsonaro, protecting and on the issue in sharp contrast with ing hands and taking selfies with On May 8, Bolsanaro said he would physically attacked journalists at the promoting his family comes first. He using the language the leading role it played during his supporters at rallies organised celebrate the weekend with a bar- president’s rallies. Bolsanaro and recently fired the chief of the federal of street thugs. President Lula’s time. On April 20, by his sons and allies. He wants to becue at the presidential palace. But his sons spread fake news on social police and appointed a family friend Brazil voted against a UN General resume football games, arguing that a day later, after facing widespread media, forcing Facebook and Twitter in his place to scupper ongoing Assembly resolution co-sponsored players are less likely to die from criticism and being threatened with a to remove some of their posts. The criminal investigations against his by 179 countries seeking global

34 THE WEEK • MAY 24, 2020 MAY 24, 2020 • THE WEEK 35 WORLD BRAZIL IVORY TOWER SANJAYA BARU access to medicines and vaccines to tackle Covid-19. It was ironic as Brazil had in the past successfully led developing countries in their fight for affordable HIV/AIDS medicines, Season of policy wonks even breaking a few international patents in the process. Marking a complete turnaround in its foreign he Covid-19 lockdown will be remembered In a crisis, the more successful governments are policy, Brazil recently voted against for many things. One of them, without doubt, those that can manage the implications of uncer- a pro-Palestine resolution in the UN, Twould be the tsunami of policy advice that has tainty. Risk can be calculated, based on probability. further alienating several countries hit many governmental shores around the world. Uncertainty is a virtual black box. One way in which in the developing world. Sitting at home and forced to read, reflect and write, economic policy makers have handled uncertainty is The only bridge Bolsonaro has professionals in the policy world—ranging from pure to rely on the disciplines of psychology and sociology. built so far is with Trump, his role academics and theorists to locked down government How are individuals and groups likely to behave un- model. But this is temporary and officials and their retired seniors—have loads of time der given circumstances? In going into the lockdown, unsustainable. Although Bolsanaro to think about the pandemic and its consequences the government may not have had enough time to wants total alignment of Brazil’s for- and come up with solutions. reflect on its consequences. However, at the end of

eign policy with that of Trump’s, he REUTERS Crisis periods are like that. When governments are seven weeks of lockdown, there ought to have been has been restrained by his own for- hit with unexpected challenges, they reach out to adequate thinking within the government both on the eign office and military. For instance, BLIND SUPPORT practical ideas from wherever they can get them. The consequences of continued lockdown and of the end his decision to shift the Brazilian ical party. He has moved from one Supporters of Bolsonaro in a protest Great Depression and the era of post-war reconstruc- of lockdown. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Je- fringe party to another eight times so against the Supreme Court tion were two such periods when It is now clear that different rusalem has not been implemented. far. During his presidential campaign governments desperately looked social classes have reacted Most people voted for Bolsonaro he was with the Social Liberal Party. around for ideas and that is differently to the lockdown. The in 2018, in a clear verdict against the He quit last November over a dispute It was nothing compared with when economists came into their middle class have been remark- corruption scandals involving the on the control of campaign funds the charges being levelled against own. The tallest among them ably tame. Usually more vocal Workers Party and other mainstream and launched his own party called Bolsonaro. However, he enjoys the was John Maynard Keynes, the and argumentative and more political parties and leaders. There the Alliance for Brazil with himself as support of the bible, bullet and beef father of modern macroeconom- demanding of the government, was a massive anti-incumbency president and his eldest son Flavio as lobby comprising evangelicals, rich ics. Keynes’s biographer Robert the urban middle class has si- wave across Brazil, which benefited vice president. But it does not have landlords and the cattle and meat Skidelsky subtitled the second lently fallen in line and accepted Bolsonaro. But many of those who any other recognisable leaders. industry, which uses him to ad- volume of his three-volume the lockdown. The less privileged voted for him regret their decision The Congress has already received vance their own partisan agenda. biography thus: ‘The Economist and poor have, however, shown now. People are horrified to see at least two dozen impeachment Some other legislators are willing to as Saviour’. little confidence in the govern- his inhuman approach towards the petitions against Bolsanaro. It had support him thinking that this is the In an earlier era, wrote Skidel- ment and have opted to return to pandemic. People had hoped that impeached president Dilma Rouseff best time to bargain for favours and sky, the common folk turned to priests and soothsay- the imagined certainty of their distant homes rather the power and prestige as president in 2016 for budget manipulation. pork barrel (appropriations made for ers for reassurance about the future in the midst of than accept the risk and uncertainty associated with might make him moderate and projects that are not essential but are uncertainty. In the 20th century of reason, logic and staying put in less hospitable territory. pragmatic. They are disillusioned to sought because they pump money empiricism, they had turned to the economist. “The How will a population that has lived through the see that he has become worse and and resources locally). generational shift with which Keynes was associated,” lockdown respond to various economic signals once even incites anti-democratic attacks Former president Fernando Henri- writes Skidelsky, “is properly called avant-garde. His the lockdown is lifted? Will the middle class regain from the presidential palace. Millions Sensible que Cardoso cautioned that Bolson- generation saw itself as the front line of the army of confidence and return to public places? Will migrant are now protesting, banging pots politicians, aro’s authoritarian impulses could progress.” workers return to places of work? Will consumers, and pans and yelling “Bolsonaro lead to the return of the military dic- However, Skidelsky adds, Keynes gave central im- savers, investors, employers trust governments? Can out” whenever the president comes businessmen, civil tatorship. Rodrigo Maia, president of portance to uncertainty in the realm of policy-mak- policy interventions of the past work in the future? on television. They are afraid that society leaders the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies, ing. All human action in the present is taken based on Answers to these questions can only be found in the the longer Bolsonaro continues as and professionals tweeted, “The whole world is united data from the past and assumptions about the future. realm of human psychology and sociology. While president, the worse it will be for the in the fight against the coronavirus. But in a world of uncertain outcomes, “uncertainty behavioural economics may offer some answers, country. consider Bolsonaro In Brazil, we have to fight against the pervades both private and public calculations of mainstream post-Keynesian economics would have Sensible politicians, businessmen, more toxic than coronavirus and the virus of authori- means to achieve given ends”. Skidelsky accused little to contribute since most of its conclusions are civil society leaders and professionals Covid-19. tarianism.” Keynes’s disciples of not paying adequate attention to based on past data and an understanding of homo consider Bolsonaro more toxic than the role of uncertainty in policy-making. economicus in a very different world. Covid-19. The president does not The author is a retired diplomat with have the support of any major polit- extensive experience in Latin America. Baru is an economist and a writer. He was adviser to former prime minister Manmohan Singh. ILLUSTRATION BHASKARAN 36 THE WEEK • MAY 24, 2020 MAY 24, 2020 • THE WEEK 37 COVER STORY WEST BENGAL

STATE OF WORRY With low testing and the highest Covid-19 mortality rate in the country, West Bengal could be staring at a public health disaster. THE WEEK takes a look at how things came to a head in the state

BY RABI BANERJEE SALIL BERA SALIL IN A MESS West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee

38 THE WEEK • MAY 24, 2020 MAY 24, 2020 • THE WEEK 39 COVER STORY WEST BENGAL SALIL BERA SALIL

n March 19, as were reportedly lax. Prime Minister “I was alarmed to see how mi- Narendra Modi grants were treated,” virologist Am- announced a Janata Curfew to itava Nandy told THE WEEK. “They tackle the Covid-19 pandemic, West were all coming from highly infected Bengal seemed preoccupied with zones and were released after being the Citizenship (Amendment) Act given hydroxychloroquine (HCQ). and its attendant politics. Though This is absurd and unimaginable. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee did HCQ has no role at the pre-exposure not object to Modi’s decision, many level. Even in full-blown patients, it shops remained open on March 22, does not kill the virus but only reduc- the day of the curfew. The same day, es symptoms. They should have been Banerjee declared a lockdown in sent for institutionalised quarantine.” West Bengal till March 27, signalling Hundreds of students from Rajast- that the state would decide on all han, Kerala and Maharashtra, who pandemic-related measures. returned in buses and trains, were At the time, both Banerjee and the also given HCQ and allowed to go state BJP were chalking out plans for home to various parts of the state. next year’s assembly elections. While “We are unable to track the virus many BJP leaders were slated to visit because the way it is mutating is TOUGH JOB the state, Banerjee was preparing alarming,” said Nandy. “It has a Health workers waiting to head to north Bengal, where her certain character in one place, but for the body of a Covid-19 party was routed in the 2019 Lok Sab- just 5km away, it is mutating in such patient at Bangur Hospital in Kolkata ha elections. She was banking on the a way that the old antibodies fail to anti-CAA sentiment in the state, and tackle it.” her new strategist, Prashant Kishor, When the Modi government first was keenly monitoring the situation. extended the lockdown till April 30, Elsewhere, a storm was brewing. Banerjee said her state would also Kolkata, Howrah, South 24 Parganas, from their areas recently. As Covid-19 cases started increasing do so, but with a human face. Bengal Hooghly, North 24 Parganas, Malda BENGAL WAS REPORTEDLY LATE IN TRACKING Shehanshah Jahangir, former In- in March, many factories across the kept open markets and gave relaxa- and Murshidabad had gone to the dian Union Muslim League national country began releasing workers and tions to labour-intensive sectors like Tablighi markaz (centre). The Bengal DOWN THOSE WHO HAD ATTENDED THE TABLIGHI secretary and businessman, said he shutting down. Amid the panic and tea and jute. However, people violat- government, however, officially -de JAMAAT EVENT IN DELHI, WHICH LATER BECAME was also told about bodies taken to chaos, a large number of Bengalis ed social distancing norms in these tected only 73 attendees, who came various burial grounds in Kolkata. had to return home. “There was no places, which could have worsened to it voluntarily. “If Assam could A COVID-19 HOTSPOT. “Not only Muslims, but many Hindus way I could stay there (Kerala),” said the situation in the state. detect 500 cases within three days also died in the past one month,” Tofajjal Sheikh, a young man from Bengal was also reportedly late in and altogether 800 cases, why could he said. “They might have died of Lalgola in Murshidabad. “I was work- tracking down those who had attend- the Bengal government not go be- supported Banerjee. “The chief a bad name and ill-treated them.” other diseases, but the way they were ing in an agro-farm near Kasargod. ed the Tablighi Jamaat event in Delhi, yond 73?” asked state BJP president minister dealt with the Tablighi Nevertheless, people living in cremated and buried by the police My employer asked me to go back which later became a Covid-19 hot- Dilip Ghosh. “Apart from migration, issue correctly,” said Syed Zamirul certain parts of central Kolkata like and sanitation workers wearing PPE home as many other employees were spot. According to news reports, the the Tablighi returnees are the major Hasan, state president of the All India Park Circus and Taltala—where (personal protective equipment) also running a fever. I came to Lalgo- state began identifying the attendees reason for infections in the rural belt. Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen. “They many Tablighi Jamaat followers from raised a lot of suspicion.” la on March 12.” only on March 31, nearly 10 days The government knew it and did (Tablighis) are known for their clean- Uttar Pradesh and Bihar are said to According to sources, the Pragati Thousands of others also returned, after the event had ended. nothing.” liness. It is a pity that the Centre and be staying—told THE WEEK that they Maidan police station in eastern Kol- but medical checks at the stations A large number of people from But there were also some who many other governments gave them saw many bodies being taken out kata was entrusted with organising

40 THE WEEK • MAY 24, 2020 MAY 24, 2020 • THE WEEK 41 COVER STORY WEST BENGAL n INTERVIEW

a mass funeral at the Dhapa landfill, one of the biggest dumping grounds AS OF NOW, THE CASES SEEM TO BE LARGELY in India. The officer in charge of the CONFINED TO SOUTH BENGAL. BUT IF THE VIRUS police station, along with a few oth- ers, was infected and hospitalised. SPREADS IN THE NORTHERN PARTS, IT WOULD Dr Sukumar Mukherjee, chairman, state health advisory On April 21, Sisir Naskar, superin- SPELL DOOM FOR THE STATE. committee, West Bengal tendent of the government-run M.R. Bangur Hospital in Howrah, report- edly wrote to the Jadavpur police station, saying that bodies needed deaths, why were families asked to among health workers in the state. I fear the worst is in store for us to be removed as the mortuary was be quarantined?”asked state BJP vice As of now, the cases seem to be full. State government sources said president Biswapriya Roychowdhury. largely confined to south Bengal. But BY RABI BANERJEE Naskar has been asked to explain Another problem plaguing Bengal if the virus spreads in the northern why he wrote such a letter. is that the doctors are scared of parts, it would spell doom for the Kolkata apart, there have been treating the patients. In Howrah, the state. Of 68 Covid-19 hospitals in the Q/What is the current situation in to set up a death committee. It is their state government? reports of the police cremating superintendent of the district hos- state, north Bengal has only 10, that Bengal? decision, I have nothing to say. But it is A/I have said that we need to stick bodies in Alipurduar district in north pital was infected, along with some too for nearly two crore people. A/It is not out of control. But the num- very difficult to find the cause of death to the ICMR guidelines. There cannot Bengal. Officially, the district has no other doctors and nurses, forcing the “I have no doubt that it has now ber [of cases] is increasing rapidly. during this pandemic situation. be several guidelines to follow. I also cases. However, on April 20, the po- facility to close temporarily. At least become community infection,” said So there might be a huge jump in pointed out that there is no option but lice and villagers clashed in a village half a dozen doctors in Kolkata have Nandy. “There are hundreds of cases cases. If it increases this way, we are Q/West Bengal has low testing. to start community tracing as early as in the district after locals tried to stop also been infected, and two have where we have not found any source apprehensive of that. A/This was because of various possible. the cremation there. The police had died. According to news reports, the of contamination. We need to follow reasons. A lack of kits, faulty kits, been wearing PPE and the families West Bengal Doctors Forum has writ- a roadmap to tackle the spread. We Q/What is the plan of treatment? etc. Sometimes, a negative case in a Q/As the virus is spreading quickly, of those cremated were later told to ten to Chief Secretary Rajiva Sinha are completely in a mess thanks to a A/The symptomatic cases will go to CBNAAT (cartridge-based nucleic acid was the lockdown not a success? remain home. “If these were natural about the rising number of infections lack of decisions at the top.” hospital. Asymptomatic and mild cases amplification test) gave a positive re- A/I would not say it has failed. But yes, would be treated at home. If they sult in an RT-PCR (reverse transcription it has not got the desired result. Peo- become symptomatic, they would have polymerase chain reaction) test. ple’s help was missing. This is because to be taken to hospital. the level of education in the state is UPPING THE ANTE Q/But there must be tests at the much lower than what is required West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh Q/What about the high death rate? community level to check the today. Look at Kerala. It is largely A/The death rate in Bengal is around 3 spread. successful because of its high rate per cent without comorbidity. A/Yes, of course. But the government of education even in rural areas. [The has limitations. I have told the govern- people] listened to the government. Q/Why are deaths due to comorbidi- ment to raise the number of daily tests ty not included? to 5,000 immediately. The total tests Q/What is the way ahead? A/After our intervention, it has now would have to reach 60,000 within a A/[Having a] lockdown forever is just been done. [As part of] the advisory few days. Only then will we have an not possible. We have not yet thought board, I told the government to include idea about the pattern of the disease. of the second wave. I fear that the the comorbid number according to worst is still in store for us. I wish we ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Re- Q/Do you feel West Bengal has have a united attempt at tackling the search) norms. reached community-level infection? situation. People would have to listen A/I cannot say yes or no. Slums in to the government. We must know Q/But why did the government not north and south Kolkata are getting that hospitals have a limit to bear [the follow that initially? infected. This is a clear indication of load]. A/There are deaths of Covid-19 and community-level infection. But no large deaths with Covid-19. More stress was community-level study has been con- Q/Are you confident that the state’s given to [the former]. ducted yet. So far we have been able to health care system can tackle the do contact tracing; community tracing situation? Q/What are your thoughts on the is yet to be started. A/It has become an issue between death audit committee? life and livelihood. Which one to save? A/In our state or country, postmor- Q/You are part of the ‘global adviso- Nobody knows. People would have to tem is [mostly] not done [in Covid-19 ry board’ set up by the chief minis- [find a] balance, otherwise no govern-

SALIL BERA SALIL cases]. So, our government decided ter. What advice have you given the ment can do that.

42 THE WEEK • MAY 24, 2020 MAY 24, 2020 • THE WEEK 43 COVER STORY WEST BENGAL

BLEAK BENGAL COVID-19 HOSPITALS COVID-19 PROGRESSION EARMARKED IN THE STATE TEST PER MILLION GOVERNMENT PRIVATE BEDS 585 16 52 8,570

ARH IRST ASE FROM APRIL 4 TO APRIL 16, THE BULLETINS ONLY MENTIONED ACTIVE CASES, NOT TOTAL MARCH 18 ARRIL 1 ARRIL 4 ASES

DEATHS ARH APRIL A Note There was no government bulletin for March 19, April 2, April 3 and April 5, and no cumulative data in the bulletins for May 1, May 2 and May 3 | Note Deaths which are due to comorbidities, and not Covid-19, as per the West Bengal government, added to number of deaths as this is the number published by the Union health ministry.

SOUR DAIL BULLETIN N WBHEALTHGIN GRAPHICS SREEANIANDAN SRESEARCH ARTHI RAINDRANATH RABI BANERJEE

The 10 Covid-19 hospitals in north been curtailed in such a way. It is retary Apurva Chandra: “The state senior state officials. “Except the Bengal are small nursing homes with a violation of the code of medical government has taken an antago- principal secretary, health, whom we very few beds. In Darjeeling district, ONE REASON WEST BENGAL HAS SUFFERED ethics and practice.” nistic view to the IMCT and has not spoke with through video confer- only six private hospitals (no govern- While the media reported more supported the IMCT in performing ence, no one was available,” said DURING THE PANDEMIC IS THE LACK OF ment facilities) have been allowed to deaths in the following days, the of- its duties. This is in contrast with the Chandra. treat Covid-19 patients; the district PRIVATE INVESTMENT IN THE HEALTH SECTOR. ficial number remained low. In fact, experience of the IMCTs deputed to Said State Education Minister Par- has had two deaths already, one in even before the audit committee was other states, where daily schedules of tha Chatterjee: “If the intention was Siliguri and the other in Kalimpong. formed, the state kept altering the the visits were prepared and meet- to assist the states, they would have The total number of beds in these format of the daily bulletins, adding ings were held by the IMCTs with the sent teams to Gujarat and Haryana six hospitals is 525, catering to 20 used so far,” said Home Secretary no big hospital to cater to two crore and removing information and caus- highest levels of the government to before West Bengal. In February, lakh people. The North Bengal Med- Alapan Bandyopadhyay, trying to people, and there are no ICUs in ing confusion. the field-level functionaries.” over one lakh people were packed ical College and Hospital, the biggest project confidence. hospitals.” On April 20, the Union government The IMCT teams also found gaps in a stadium for the Namaste Trump state-run hospital in the region, did One reason West Bengal has suf- On April 3, the government set sent Inter-Ministerial Central Teams in the state’s pandemic data and said event in Ahmedabad. Can the Centre not have the facilities to tackle the fered during the pandemic is the lack up an audit committee to ascertain to Bengal to assess the situation. A that the Covid-19 mortality rate in guarantee that there was no trans- pandemic. of private investment in the health if patients had died of Covid-19. few days later, the teams from Delhi West Bengal (9.2 per cent on May 12) mission of Covid-19 in that event and Together, the 10 private hospitals sector. “No health care investment Curiously, victims who had co-mor- sought details of the working of the was the highest in the country. there weren’t attendees from Bengal in north Bengal have 67 ventilators. took place in Bengal in the past one bidities were not listed as having died audit committee. The Central teams were apparently who possibly carried the virus back The whole state, according to the decade,” said Darjeeling MP Raju of Covid-19. “This is a human rights The two IMCT teams were initially denied information on the Tablighi to the state?” government, has 392 ventilators for Bista. “The situation in north Bengal violation,” said Bista. “Nowhere in not allowed to move around freely. Jamaat markaz attendees and they After the IMCT teams pulled up Covid-19 cases. “Only 31 have been is grimmer than in Kolkata. There is the world have the powers of doctors Noted the team led by Special Sec- were not given appointments with the state government, the latter has

44 THE WEEK • MAY 24, 2020 MAY 24, 2020 • THE WEEK 45 COVER STORY WEST BENGAL

FATALITY RATES HEAVY LIFTING SSs Labourers in Kolkata CSS have not been following social distancing norms Andhra Pradesh 2.2 Delhi 1.13 Gujarat 6.03 Madhya Pradesh 5.64 Maharashtra 3.77 Punjab 1.67 Rajasthan 2.84 Tamil Nadu 0.7 Telangana 2.41 Uttar Pradesh 2.24 West Bengal 9.11

GRAPHICS SREEMANIKANDAN S.\ RESEARCH KARTHIK RAVINDRANATH

isters, Banerjee said that the states should be allowed in the discussion On May 12, in the face of mounting before the Centre takes any decision. “My only humble request is, do not criticism, state health secretary bulldoze the federal structure,” she Vivek Kumar (above) was transferred said. Asked about the politics sur- to the environment department. rounding the pandemic, virologist SALIL BERA SALIL Nandy said, “I would only urge the politicians and everyone else not to damage the science and allow it to been more forthcoming with the politics behind the formation of the faulty kits that had to be returned. Minister Amit Shah then shot off a and went ahead with its plans. propel [research]. We have serious information. On May 11, the govern- committee. He alleged that the ruling It is too bad that they (the BJP) are letter criticising the Bengal The medical side of the pandemic days ahead of us.” ment put the number of Covid deaths Trinamool Congress wanted to use playing politics over it.” government. aside, sources said Banerjee was He said the major mistake India at 118, a dramatic increase in the the pandemic as a political tool. Countered Roychowdhury: “If we While Trinamool Rajya Sabha extremely upset at the Centre’s han- had made was not having a single number (18) it had claimed on April There has also been criticism of the had to do politics, why should we not member Derek O’Brien said it was in dling of the economy, especially the policy across states. He said the 24. The number of deaths due to low testing in the state. Till May 11, target Kerala, Delhi and Rajasthan? Shah’s “DNA to play politics [even] impact of the lockdown on the states. Centre should have first shortlisted comorbidities was 72 on May 11. Bengal had tested 47,615 samples, They took initiative and bought test during a pandemic”, no one from the GST collection would be affected Covid-19 cases in different parts of On May 12, in the face of mounting which is 529 per million people. kits. This government sat idle be- government explained why there because of the lockdown and states the country, and then launched mas- criticism, state health secretary Vivek Till mid-April, the state was testing cause it wanted to blame the Centre.” was no reply to the home ministry’s would have to rely on Central grants. sive testing in those particular areas Kumar was transferred to the envi- only 400 samples a day. This is now The state-Centre clash did not stop letters. On April 8, the Centre announced to know whether it was spreading. ronment department. Also, the death around 4,000. there. Recently, as the Railways de- Sources in the state administra- that states would be allowed to “Every week, we should have done audit committee would now study Chandrima Bhattacharya, West cided to run trains carrying migrant tion said that Banerjee was initially borrow a cumulative of 03.20 lakh tests at places where positive cases only select Covid-19 deaths. Said Dr Bengal junior health minister, workers, the Union home ministry reluctant to accept migrants from red crore from the market between April were reported,” he said. “This should Sukumar Mukherjee, the chief minis- blamed the faulty kits and the Indian asked the states to submit a report on zones. “She herself decided to bring and December. Of this, West Bengal have continued for a few weeks. Only ter’s health adviser: “The government Council of Medical Research guide- the number of migrants they had. people stuck in green and orange would get around 020,000 crore, then would the government know has decided to retain the committee. lines for the low testing. “If the ICMR West Bengal, apparently, did not zones but the situation would have which the state government says is how long a lockdown was required. I am not part of it and have nothing fixes [parameters for] who can be answer. The home ministry mailed turned serious if red zones were giv- not enough. Nothing like that has been done; the to say about it.” tested and under what circumstanc- another letter to the chief secretary, en priority,” said a state official. On May 11, during Modi’s vid- states and the Centre kept fighting in BJP leader Roychowdhury saw es, what could we do? Also, we got which also went unanswered. Home The Centre, however, was unfazed, eo-conference with the chief min- these critical hours.”

46 THE WEEK • MAY 24, 2020 MAY 24, 2020 • THE WEEK 47 COVER STORY WEST BENGAL

On May 6, Bhalla wrote a two-page letter TAKING saying that West Bengal had the highest mor- A CLOSE LOOK tality rate in the country at 13.2 per cent. “This The Central is a reflection of poor surveillance, detection team in Kolkata and testing in the state,” said Bhalla. In another letter, he wrote that West Bengal had failed to resume the movement of goods between India and Bangladesh. As a result, trucks carrying essential supplies were stuck at border crossing points. Also, drivers returning from Bangladesh BALLOT were denied entry and were stuck there. Bhalla said these issues had larger implications for the Indian government. There has been an exchange of missives between Banerjee and Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar, too. The governor said it was time for

FEVER BERA SALIL the chief minister’s “tryst with reality”. Baner- jee, in turn, reminded him of his “ornamental” position. Their bickering has now spilled over to A tussle is on between Mamata Twitter and text messages as well. Banerjee and the BJP. Voters Recently, Shah shot off another letter to Banerjee over her government’s failure to make know that this is not about arrangements for the return of migrant work- Covid-19, but about the 2021 ers. The railway ministry tweeted that Indian railways had run more than 300 trains for states assembly polls like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, but it had received approval for only two trains from West Bengal BY NAMRATA BIJI AHUJA till May 9. While West Bengal subsequently approved more trains, Trinamool’s Rajya Sabha member Derek O’Brien told THE WEEK that Shah was spreading half-truths to gain political n March, Mamata Banerjee took the Covid-19 secretary A.K. Bhalla. The first set of letters criti- The Centre versus state tussle is now being played advantage. “What we need is true federalism fight to the streets, distributing masks and cised the state government for violating lockdown out at the bureaucracy level. An inter-ministerial and genuine humanism,”he said. “The Centre, Idrawing circles on the road to enforce physical norms. Banerjee had been visiting hospitals, quar- Central team (IMCT), led by additional secretary on the other hand, has made a hotchpotch of distancing. But, for the past one month the West antine centres, stadiums and markets, sometimes Apurva Chandra, alleged that it was restrained from handling the crisis at the national level. A 21-day Bengal chief minister has been spending more sporting a mask, sometimes not. Her visits to paci- making visits or interacting with health professionals lockdown with four hours of notice? They aban- time inside her Nabanna office in the red zone fy people won her praise even from her detractors. during its 10-day visit to the state. However, state doned the migrant worker.” district of Howrah. Notices from the Union home But as the number of Covid-19 cases grew in the chief secretary Rajiva Sinha denied the allega- Banerjee is now in damage control mode. ministry have been piling up on her desk. She is state, Banerjee stayed put at Nabanna. On April 3, tion. On April 24, Chandra wrote to Sinha question- On May 12, she replaced health secretary Vivek probably the chief minister whose political acu- she set up a five-member committee to audit the ing whether the formation of the audit panel was in Kumar with Narayan Swaroop Nigam, who was men has been tested the most during the pandem- Covid-19 deaths. The committee first examined the line with the Indian Council of Medical Research in charge of transport. In April, she had replaced ic and, in her case, the results have changed from death of 105 Covid-19 patients and found that the guidelines and asked for the methodology adopted food secretary Manoj Agarwal with P.A. Siddiqui positive to negative in two months. virus had caused only 33 deaths. In other cases, the by the panel. over allegations of anomalies in the public dis- And, Banerjee is miffed. During Prime Minister patients died of other factors and having Covid-19 The IMCT reported that at the Chittaranjan Na- tribution scheme. Ghosh said that Banerjee was Narendra Modi’s conference with chief ministers was “incidental”, the committee said. tional Cancer Institute and Bangur hospital a large trying to shift blame on the bureaucracy for her on May 11, she accused Home Minister Amit Shah West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh said that number of patients in isolation wards had to wait poor performance. O’Brien, however, said, “We of being the brain behind the “politics” over the the state government was trying to hide the actual for five days or more for their test results. “There is a are doing well, but there is no place for overcon- pandemic. “When something happens in Gujarat figures. “If the chief minister and her cabinet danger of a Covid-19 negative patient acquiring the fidence.” or an ordinance is declared to snatch away the themselves did not follow lockdown rules, what infection in the hospital awaiting his test result,” the Both the BJP and the Trinamool have real- rights of labourers in Uttar Pradesh, why don’t you could you expect? Twelve hospitals handling report said. It also found that dead bodies were left ised that the 2021 assembly polls will be fought question them? Why are you targeting Bengal and Covid-19 cases had to be shut as doctors and staff lying on beds for at least four hours, before death under the shadow of Covid-19. For the state and its people by sending notices?” she asked. got infected,” he told THE WEEK. “The food, health certificates were issued. There was shortage of venti- its people though, what matters now is a victory Shah has been firing notices through home and home departments have failed to perform.” lators and testing facilities, too, it said. over the virus.

48 THE WEEK • MAY 24, 2020 MAY 24, 2020 • THE WEEK 49 GUJARAT COVID-19

The initial response to the pan- meeting. Rupani was forced to go demic was riddled with missteps The into isolation for more than a week. and flawed decisions. The gov- government The government also failed to ernment made U-turns on several prevent protest gatherings. Migrant Ahmedabad blues announcements, adding to the failed to labourers in Surat have hit the streets Sluggish measures, flawed decisions and lack of confusion regarding lockdown rules. prevent four times in the past six weeks. In Ahmedabad, Municipal Commis- protest Rupani had announced in April that coordination have worsened the Covid-19 crisis in Gujarat sioner Vijay Nehra had to quarantine labourers, including those from out- himself after two persons he had met gatherings. side the state, would be given rations BY NANDINI OZA tested positive. Nehra has since been Migrant free of cost. But the project does not sidelined, reportedly because he had labourers in seem to be working properly. The failed to take the political leadership Surat have hit labourers reportedly have to walk at IN APRIL, more than two dozen command. Nor does he see eye to eye into confidence. least two kilometres carrying their Covid-19 patients spent hours on the with Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel. In Ahmedabad and Surat, only the streets utensils to get supplies. Also, chil- streets after they were denied admis- Bureaucrats fighting the pandemic shops selling milk and medicines four times in dren are not provided food if they do sion to the 1,200-bed Ahmedabad are taking pains to give credit to were allowed to open. The decision the past six not accompany their parents. Civil Hospital in Gujarat. After a both the leaders. was taken apparently to contain po- The alleged poor handling of the video clip showing their plight went The first two Covid-19 tential “super-spreaders”—vegetable weeks. Covid-19 crisis has spawned ru- viral, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani cases in Gujarat were vendors and grocery shop owners— mours that the BJP’s national leader- blamed those who had attended the reported on March 19. The but the government failed to make ship wants Union Minister Mansukh Tablighi Jamaat event in Delhi, one state government woke alternative arrangements. expected to streamline operations. Mandaviya to replace Rupani as of India’s biggest Covid-19 clusters, up to the threat rather late, The fight against the pandemic Experts say the rising number of chief minister. Mandaviya, however, for the increase in the number of because it had been busy also suffered from poor coordina- Covid-19 cases in Gujarat was the has denied it. “Rumours of a change infections in the state. organising the Namaste tion. A case in point is the situation result of the poorly implemented in leadership will only damage Rupani’s statement was politically Trump event in Ahmedabad at the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, lockdown. Elected representatives Gujarat’s interests,” he said. “I have expedient and hardly surprising. on February 24. “At a time which has one of Asia’s biggest and political workers have not been spoken to Vijaybhai and requested What was surprising, though, was when the World Health Covid-19 wards. Bureaucrats have of much help in spreading aware- him to take action against those who the speed with which the police Organization had issued been accused of threatening doctors, ness and preventing infections. are spreading such rumours.” swung into action, quietly identifying warnings about Covid-19, while doctors have been accused “The BJP’s booth-level management On May 11, Dhaval Patel, editor Tablighi members who had returned thousands of people came of not taking heed of suggestions of during elections is considered to be of the news portal Face of Nation, to Gujarat, tracking their primary for the event. This could have public health experts. very good,” said Rohit Prajapati, a was arrested for publishing a report contacts, quarantining them and been avoided,” said Con- In a bid to set things in order, the Vadodara-based activist. “Where are suggesting that Rupani would be re- taking measures to prevent commu- gress leader Shaktisinh government has brought in Dr M.M. these managers now? They should moved. He was charged with section nal flare-ups. Gohil. Prabhakar, the hospital’s former be asking people to follow social 124A (sedition) of the Indian Penal There are more than 9,000 Cov- medical superintendent. Prabhakar, distancing rules and helping migrant Code and section 54 (punishment for id-19 patients in Gujarat now; about who had been transferred to workers.” false alarm) of the Disaster Manage- 550 have died. Ahmedabad alone the medical education Sociologist Gaurang Jani said the ment Act. accounts for 67 per cent of cases and department, knows crisis showed the collective failure of Rupani’s poor show could be the 77 per cent of deaths. Since Mus- the staff well and is the BJP government. “They blamed reason that senior bureaucrat K. lims make up only 9 per cent the Tablighis and did nothing for a Kailashnathan has been asked to of the six crore people in the month,” said Jani. take charge of the Covid-19 response. state, Rupani can no longer Rupani himself failed Known as Modi’s close confidant, blame the minority com- to take adequate safety Kailashnathan is chief principal sec- munity for the worsening measures. Congress retary to the chief minister. All front- crisis. legislator Imran line workers and senior officials are Lack of vision and Khedawala, who was now reporting to Kailashnathan. coordination have been part of a delegation BJP spokesperson Bharat Pandya evident in the govern- that visited Rupani in said Rupani had performed well. ment’s response to the April, tested positive “He is capable and has taken quick pandemic. Rupani, within hours of the decisions,” said Pandya. “He holds who has been keeping discussions and monitors everything, a low profile, does IN THE LINE OF FIRE taking decisions that are big and

not appear to be in JANAK PATEL Vijay Rupani small.”

50 THE WEEK • MAY 24, 2020 MAY 24, 2020 • THE WEEK 51 ECONOMY INTERVIEW

WHILE EXPERTS ARE divided on also infused substantial long term we do not introduce measures that Bimal Jalan the manner in which the lockdown liquidity. are required to accelerate growth, the former RBI governor was imposed across the country after effects of Covid-19 on the economy the Covid-19 outbreak, former Re- Recently, the RBI took steps to infuse and the welfare of the people will be serve Bank governor Bimal Jalan has liquidity into the system. Is this very challenging. As of now, we are no doubt that it was the best thing the enough? on track and have taken appropriate, government could have done. In an So far, the steps taken by the RBI and timely steps and decisions. exclusive interview with THE WEEK, the government are timely, but wheth- he talks about why the slowdown er they are enough would depend Will the long-term economic might be a temporary one and the on how the Indian economy actually reforms that the government had measures the government should behaves. The RBI has introduced low launched be affected by the If we take to revive the economy. Excerpts: rate of interest and the government lockdown? has also increased the fiscal deficit Confidence among people in terms Many people have opined that the target. These have been broadly aimed of investment, and consumer lockdown will severely affect the at increasing consumer demand and demand and consumption have to do not the supply side in the economy. The - economy. Do you think it was the improve. At the moment, the govern best thing to do by the government RBI has taken measures to provide re- ment should take short-term action to resort to a complete lockdown? sources to strengthen SMEs as well as to revive the economy. It should take accelerate There is no doubt at present that the mutual funds in addition to reducing long-term economic reforms when lockdown has affected the growth lending interest rates. the present circumstances have rate of the economy. According to If more liquidity has to be created by turned around and the slow growth growth, the the estimates made by several econo- the RBI and the government, it is nec- rate is revived to at least 5 per cent. mists and experts, the growth rate essary to take administrative measures will significantly decline. Estimates of and simplify the approval system for How much time will the economy likely growth rate during this period those who are investing. Large corpo- take to revive post the lockdown? effects of range from 0.5 to 2 per cent. Hope- rates have to be encouraged to spend This year, the GDP growth rate may fully, it will be a short-term issue. as much they can. At the same time, not be 5.2 or 6 per cent, but over The lockdown has ensured that the it must be ensured that benefits reach a period of time it can certain- Covid-19 spread of Covid-19 has been brought the common people. Under the pres- ly increase if appropriate policy down. If the lockdown had not been ent situation, we have to implement actions are taken. When growth rate imposed there would have been the measures that have already been increases, employment prospects on the many more sick people and many announced by the government and the and jobs will also increase. Under more people would have died. As RBI based on actual developments. In the present circumstances, as rate of such I think there would have been the light of these measures, it should growth and investments have come no option for the government but be feasible for the government and the down significantly, jobs have been economy to go in for a complete lockdown. I RBI to further increase liquidity in the impacted severely. So we have to hope that once the lockdown is lifted, economy, if required. reverse the present situation and growth will revive as the number of ensure that more jobs are created will be affected people has not been very Will we be able to achieve the target in the economy. As mentioned, the high in India, compared with other of making India a $5 trillion econo- government and the RBI should go countries. my by 2024? all out to revive growth and to take challenging How much growth rate we will I think we should not stick to the measures to bring back the economy actually have in the future is a target of $5 trillion economy by 2024. to normal. long-term issue and I feel that after Any target for the economy in 2024, All necessary action should also the lockdown ends the growth will which is four years from now, should be taken on the demand side. The BY ABHINAV SINGH start reviving. The government has be considered only after we mitigate impact assessment of the lockdown to take all the necessary action to the economic effects of the Covid-19 is important, but is not a priority is- revive growth as early as feasible. pandemic. As things stand today, we sue. It can be accessed after we have There could be scope for companies will not be able to achieve a very high taken measures to revive the growth to invest more in order to increase target within the given timeframe as rate. The immediate priority should demand for their products. The announced earlier. I feel that the pres- be to reverse the impact of this government has already taken some ent situation will prevail at least for the pandemic on the Indian economy as

REUTERS measures and the Reserve Bank has next two or three quarters. However, if early as possible.

52 THE WEEK • MAY 24, 2020 MAY 24, 2020 • THE WEEK 53 COVID-19 MIGRANT LABOURERS

“The government should have Most migrants who move from one done towards March end, as we place to another, like construction argued then, what it is doing now,” workers, are not voters at the place of said Partha Mukhopadhyay, senior their employment, and thus seldom fellow, Centre for Policy Research, a pressure group for politicians. So, Delhi. “The migrant workers were with the crisis hitting their liveli- put in camps after the lockdown. hoods, they chose to vote with their So they could have been moved to feet. their homes in buses, camp by camp. The lack of institutional support Perhaps, the thinking was that the has increased their pain. When lockdown would be shorter, and lockdown was imposed, Sumati Devi moving them would be costly. They found herself stranded in crowded are now doing it six weeks too late. Tughlakabad in Delhi, next to a Instead of spreading it over time in containment zone. Her husband was an organised manner, now they are back in Durgapur, West Bengal, and trying to hurry it up. This actually her son, a mason, was in Ernakulam, increases the chances of infection, Kerala. Though she had worked in because of the mixing of groups.” Delhi for several years, she did not What this crisis has revealed is have a bank account there. And that government assurances did not hence, she could not get the benefits work, and there were huge gaps in of Central schemes. Had she been at the communication strategy, which her native place, she could have got appeared to be more focussed on the foodgrain under the public distri- middle class than the poor. bution system. This is the primary SANJAY AHLAWAT SANJAY “The government did not have that reason migrants are returning; the LOST HOPE big a role,” said Bharatiya Mazdoor access to Central and state govern- Migrant Sangh general secretary Virjesh ment schemes is mostly limited to labourers Upadhyay. “It is the social actors who their places of permanent residence. leaving could have convinced the migrants “Another thing we saw in the mi- Delhi to stay. It was the role of NGOs and gration crisis was that people moved politicians of all parties to engage out as they were living in inhuman with the migrants and provide relief. conditions,” said Rathin Roy, former This migration was a result of this member of the prime minister’s all, the metros have been the worst emotional urge to go home, and the economic advisory council. “That hit, and millions like Joginder realise provocation generated by certain was a big lesson. We need to see bulk HOME TRUTHS this. The political class and the forces.” of industry and economic activity in As migrant workers return to their villages, their bureaucracy were taken by surprise areas where the majority of migrants when the migrants left the imperson- live. Their livelihoods have to be home states are under pressure to create jobs al, often cruel, urban spaces to find created there.” solace in their villages. The political He also suggested that the gov- BY PRATUL SHARMA “Migrants get economic security class and the ernment should focus on building in the city and social security—of the slum-free areas through massive, JOGINDER PAL never thought he will come back,” he said. lakh people in the first 10 days of op- family and of public assistance—in bureaucracy affordable housing programmes for would have to go back. He had come With no jobs, paucity of ration eration. Of the 363 trains, till May 11, their villages,” said Chinmay Tumbe, were taken by migrants. “It is morally unacceptable to Delhi 18 years ago, escaping the and disease-induced fear, migrant the maximum were to Uttar Pradesh assistant professor, IIM Ahmedabad. surprise when for India to be the slum capital of the drought-hit Banda district in Uttar workers started returning to their (172), followed by Bihar (100), “Instant flight occurs when econom- world,” he said. Pradesh. In the capital, he found villages on March 25, the first day of Madhya Pradesh (30), Odisha (25) ic security vanishes and migrants the migrants As of now, the states that provide work as a painter, got married and the lockdown. Despite government and Jharkhand (22). Now, the home seek social security.” left the urban the bulk of these migrant workers had two children. assurances, the workers started their ministry has asked the railways to The Economic Survey 2017, for spaces to find have their work cut out. Take, for Then came 2020. His work was hit journeys, mostly on foot. run at least 100 trains every day, each the first time, enumerated Railways solace in their instance, Bihar. Most of the returning twice. First came the Delhi riots, and The government belatedly started carrying 1,700 workers home. data (2011-2016), which showed an migrants are first put in quarantine then the lockdown. Exasperated, he special trains for workers across the Migrants make up more than 40 annual average flow of close to 90 villages. centres set up across the state, and returned home. “I don’t know when I country. These carried more than five per cent of Delhi’s population. Over- lakh migrants between states. are allowed to go home after 14 days.

54 THE WEEK • MAY 24, 2020 MAY 24, 2020 • THE WEEK 55 COVID-19 MIGRANT LABOURERS

where the migrant workers are from,” said Vikram Kirloskar, president, Confederation of Indian Industry. “We cannot have health without the economy and the economy without health. Therefore, we need flexibil- ity and safeguards with labour laws being relooked at.” The shortage of workers will hurt the industry for some time, but the workers cannot stay in their villages for long. “The migrants will be economically compelled to return as they would have few sources of employment at their native places, and hardly any reasonable living standards,” said Mukhopadhyay, who chaired a committee on migration set up by the ministry of housing and urban affairs. “The highly skilled migrants may hold on a bit longer to return as their experience with this process was not particularly positive. But what you see in China, is that it is

VISHNU V. NAIR VISHNU V. AP not clear if jobs will be there at all. So, the workers are more likely to come back if there is some assurance about According to official figures, more vestors, and there have already been day to a rise in productivity without ROUGH JOURNEY Gopal Krishna Agarwal, BJP spokes- the jobs available.” than 25 lakh migrant workers have some meetings. “This will create interference from labour inspectors. Migrant labourers stuffed inside person and an expert on economic The committee he headed had registered on the state government jobs and employment avenues,” said The BJP-ruled states of Uttar Pradesh, a goods truck on their way from affairs, said that most of the man- recommended portability of the Hyderabad to their villages in Uttar app to get the 01,000 that Chief Min- Sidharth Nath Singh, state micro, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh have ufacturing industry had adequate ration card, which the Centre is Pradesh; (left) a migrant labourer ister Nitish Kumar had announced. small and medium enterprises been particularly bold in this regard, and his daughter leaving Mumbai labour to start factories, but there doing under its ‘One Nation, One “Since April, we have created over minister. and the reforms are expected to on a bicycle for his village was no demand as markets are shut. Ration Card’ scheme. “We had also one lakh job cards,” said Arvind Ku- However, in this bid to grow, some generate political acrimony in the “Look at Haryana,” he said. “It has recommended that the government mar Chaudhary, principal secretary, states have decided to amend labour coming days. created a website for labourers who set up a register of migrants,” he said. rural development department. “We laws, which would, depending on “The country has seen an inhuman Tapan Sen, general secretary, Centre want to return for work, and many “The government now has the data created these cards in the quarantine the state, bring in changes like— spectacle unfold as workers were of Indian Trade Unions. “An inhu- have already registered.” as it moved so many migrants into camps they (migrants) were housed. an increase in working hours to 12 a given only four hours before the lock- man crime is being committed.” Said Sidharth Nath Singh: “As a camps and have been documented We knew this demand would come. down by the Modi government,” said Added Upadhyay: “We will fight result of reforms in labour laws in for relief, for travel and for testing. There is a lot of work available in Congress spokesperson Shaktisinh the dilution through all democratic Uttar Pradesh, new employment This data can be used to give social infrastructure projects, like build- Gohil. “They were forced to walk for means. The governments should not opportunities as well as investment benefits.” ing roads, toilets and rural housing, food and shelter. Then they were hit replicate the China model of bypass- from foreign companies will come to The Economic Survey 2017 had through which we can employ The industry by another jolt. Labour laws were re- ing labour laws as it does not follow the state.” The Uttar Pradesh gov- shown new trends in migration. around 15 lakh people. Currently, we is looking for moved as the government wanted to democratic traditions.” ernment has already set a target to “Internal migration rates have have nine lakh registered MNREGA give a red-carpet welcome to foreign The Centre’s strategy is clear. It is create 15 lakh jobs, while ramping up dipped in Maharashtra and surged workers. The state will now do skill opportunities investors.” promoting domestic manufacturing jobs under MNREGA from 20 lakh a in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, reflecting mapping of the migrants, who can to expand in Left and Congress trade unions as a counter to China. But a boom in day to 50 lakh daily. the growing pull of southern states then be allotted a suitable job.” areas where have decided to approach the Inter- manufacturing results in large-scale The industry is looking for oppor- in India’s migration dynamics, as Uttar Pradesh is aiming higher. It is national Labour Organization against movement of labour. The govern- tunities to expand in areas where the southern states created more trying to woo foreign investors who there is ready the move. “Most of the states ruled by ment would have to look into the there is ready availability of labour. facilities for the migrants,” it said. may be looking for an alternative to availability of the BJP and its allies are competing needs of the migrants when they “The lockdown has provided an “Thus, also proving that language China. The state has set up a desk to labour. with others in the name of develop- promote manufacturing. opportunity for industries to assess was no longer a barrier in migration deal with queries from foreign in- ment and attracting investment,” said Defending the labour reforms, the benefits of moving to areas for work.”

56 THE WEEK • MAY 24, 2020 MAY 24, 2020 • THE WEEK 57 PHOTO-FEATURE ECONOMY

RETAIL

The closure of shops and malls has washed out the sale of seasonal fashion accessories. The retail sector may see huge job cuts As the world is slowly opening up, businesses have started taking stock of the damages of the lockdown. The Covid-19 pandemic has left many sectors in ruins, and they are struggling to deal with the fall in demand, supply chain disruptions and shortage of labour. But they have already started piecing together the broken parts. This, after all, is just another test for the indomitable human TEXT AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY BHANU PRAKASH CHANDRA spirit

58 THE WEEK • MAY 24, 2020 MAY 24, 2020 • THE WEEK 59 PHOTO-FEATURE ECONOMY

AGRICULTURE Farmers had big financial losses despite the government’s efforts to help them sell the produce. The slump in demand, ban on interstate trans- portation and labour shortage have left fruits and vegetables rotting in farms

RECREATION

Amusement parks and businesses depending on travel and tour- ism were badly hit as people’s movement was restricted and gatherings were banned

INFRASTRUCTURE Projects like construction of bridges, roads and metro lines depend on migrant workers. Most of these workers, however, have left the cities and might not return for a while

60 THE WEEK • MAY 24, 2020 MAY 24, 2020 • THE WEEK 61 PHOTO-FEATURE ECONOMY

ADVERTISEMENT REAL ESTATE As companies have Many realty projects stopped spending have been paused on marketing and because of the slow advertisement, most market and shortage billboards remain of labourers naked, giving cities an apocalyptic look

MANUFACTURING CINEMA Medium and small The halt in the scale industries are production of cine- among the worst mas and television affected as they were series has left many under stress even artists and techni- before the pandemic cians jobless broke out

62 THE WEEK • MAY 24, 2020 MAY 24, 2020 • THE WEEK 63 SPORTS CHESS Comfortable in Germany, longing for home

BY VISHWANATHAN ANAND/ Frankfurt

I REACHED Germany in February would have been able to help her. It has been a lot of online participation to play the German league match- is harder for Aruna as my father and in chess since the lockdowns came es. I played on a Sunday and then her parents are old and have illnesses. into force. People want to expend left the country for a short camp. I I am getting the news about Chennai their energy [and time] by playing got back to Germany on March 10 through news reports and from Aru- chess online and following it. and was supposed to play a game na, but I do not think one can under- We had a very good tournament the on March 14 or 15 before returning stand a lockdown till one experiences week before. It was a good routine. home on March 17. However, my it personally. [But] the results, as far as India was return was postponed first to March In Frankfurt, the lockdown has concerned, were disappointing. We 21, and then to March 27. Eventually, been mild. I am able to go out, walk were ranked fifth, but this time it went it became clear that the world was around and do some shopping at the really badly. Koneru Humpy and D. shutting down completely. supermarket. I have adjusted to this. Harika did well, but the other three I have been staying in a small town Reports here suggest that things are players in the team struggled. For P. called Bad Soden, near Frankfurt. I under control. People generally follow Harikrishna, in one or two games it have my own place to stay as I did instructions given by the government. was a matter of winning or losing by a lot of my world championship Germans as such are very law-abiding a close margin. There were games he training here, so this stay, so far, has citizens. Besides, Chancellor Angela could have won. It feels like whatever not been my longest in Bad Soden. Merkel has communicated very well could go wrong for us did go wrong. In that sense, I know this place very with the citizens here. We could have put up a better perfor- well. However, while I used to train Bad Soden is a small town with a mance, no doubt. here, there was a specific purpose population of 20,000 or so. I do not Now that the tournament is over, it or a schedule. This time, it is just an know how people in bigger cities in is about looking to get back home. The extended stay. We thought flights Germany have managed, but here repatriation flights to India are taking would resume on March 31, then it was alright. People systematically off, but there is nothing yet from Ger- we thought the lockdown would be form queues, maintain social distanc- many. I am keeping track of develop- lifted in April, but now it continues ing and move fast. ments through the Indian embassy into May. I was also lucky in a sense I have also spent time playing chess website and people at the embassy. It that I got here two weeks before the with Akhil online. I have given him is all about how much more time I will lockdown was announced here. I some problems to solve. He is into be spending here now. If it is a week could have been stuck in a hotel coding also, so he shares some of his or so, I will concentrate on packing somewhere for ages. Here, I have my coding problems with me. But really, up and [following] the procedures friends next door. it is more about seeing each other and involved. If it will take another three The problem is [my wife] Aruna communicating daily. We are just hap- to four weeks, then I will try to learn has to cope with everything all by py to see each other through Skype. something new in chess. Everything herself [in Chennai]. Akhil, our The Nations Cup, which the cream is dependent on when I get to return son, would have had his summer of the chess world was playing online, home. holidays at this time, and he was is always a very strong tournament. As told to Neeru Bhatia. looking forward to it, but he cannot The reason I agreed to be part of it was Anand is a five-time world chess champion. SALIL BERA SALIL go anywhere. If I had been home, I that it gave me something to do. There

64 THE WEEK • MAY 24, 2020 MAY 24, 2020 • THE WEEK 65 BITTER CHOCOLATE SWARA BHASKER FASHION • ART • BOOKS • MUSIC • THEATRE • LUXURY • FOOD • PEOPLE • REVIEWS • CINEMA • SERIES Nudes and gender naysayers

ast week, an unexpected controversy fired victim card!” “What about the suicide of Manav?” (In up electronic and social media, following the an unrelated case, a 17-year-old boy from Gurugram Lleaking of screen grabs of a private Instagram committed suicide when sexual harassment allega- JO group chat called #BoisLockerRoom. Shockingly, tions against him surfaced on social media.) this group discussed in sexual, vulgar and sleazy de- When a group of 50 boys share—without permis- tail their female classmates—sharing morphed and sion—semi-nude photos of their underage female semi-nude photos of underage girls, and fantasising classmates and then slut-shame, body-shame, and STEALS about what sexual exploits could be performed on objectify and sexualise those girls—also inviting one them. of the girls into the chat to shame her—how is that Perhaps, the real stunner was the fact that a major- not related to gender and the power dynamics of how ity of the participants of this group were boys from gender operates even at that young age? elite Delhi schools, aged 14 to 15. Only the admin of THE To add a twist to the plot, two screenshots from a the group was a young adult. Snapchat chat, in which a ‘Siddharth’ suggested to As the screen grabs went viral on social media, another boy that they “rape and gang-rape” a female outrage exploded. Women and men condemned classmate, turned out to be fake—the girl in question the contents of the group and discussed how ‘rape was pretending to be Siddharth, to test the boy’s char- SHOW culture’ was rampant in India. News channels ran acter. Gender naysayers got the chance they wanted debates and interviewed the whistleblower. The Del- to delegitimise anyone questioning what happened Creative pursuits and hi Commission for Women and the Delhi Police got on the Bois Locker Room. Suddenly, all these victori- into action mode, eventually the admin was arrested ous handles were sharing ‘we told you so’, ‘Men were independence from and the most active child member of the group was the real victims’ kind of tweets. Despite a clarification apprehended. Twenty-four other members were from the police that the fake snapchat screenshot had market diktats are the questioned. nothing to do with Bois Locker Room chats, the din hallmarks of Jyothika’s The debates on social media were equally polar- from the gender naysayers didn’t die down. ised with many boys starting a trend #GirlsLocker- People ignored the plain fact that these boys had second acting stint Room, making a false equivalence, claiming that betrayed the trust of their female classmates and girls also talk about sex. Many raised the question friends. Some of these girls (whose nudes were BY LAKSHMI SUBRAMANIAN why girls were sending nudes of themselves to any circulated) were friends with some of these boys and boy. had willingly sent them semi-nude pictures. How- I waded into the debate with an Instagram live, ever, without taking consent of those underage girls, discussing numerous complex questions. Issues these boys would share those pictures in the group. like respect for women, consent, privacy, freedom This is circulation of child pornography. But the die to speak your mind, violation of various sections of had been cast—suddenly the Locker Room boys were the Indian Penal Code, circulation of child porn and, the victims and women were manipulative liars. This most crucially, normalising rape culture. I thought round the gender naysayers had won, and the femi- we would have an honest chat with young people on nist cause had lost. some of these issues. Now, I am not saying the girl who faked her The chat was honest all right! The most striking identity to incite rape as a character test was right— feature of the chat, for me, was the constant denial she should certainly face consequences for her by numerous men, and a few women, that the chats thoughtless stupidity. But by denying that gender and had anything to do with gender! “Don’t make it a gendered-inequality and gendered-power relations gender issue—it is just a few bad individuals.” “It’s even exist, are we as a society not reinforcing the very not boys versus girls!” “It’s not a man/woman thing.” inequalities that give rise to gender-related crimes in “What about fake feminism?” “Always playing the the first place?

The writer is an award-winning Bollywood actor and sometime writer and social commentator.

66 THE WEEK • MAY 24, 2020 MAY 24, 2020 • THE WEEK 67 @LEISURE CINEMA

COMEBACK homemakers who yearned to go beyond their QUEEN household duties. Jyothika and It was a period when the Tamil film industry husband, Suriya; saw a wave of women-centric films, a rarity in the (below) with Revathi in Jackpot region. The women usually played second fiddle to a popular hero or a loosu ponnu (impression- able girl). Jyothika’s new avatar provided a boost TT Vilayadu (2006). for scripts with women in the lead. “To me, as an She faded out a couple of years after her actor, there is nothing called women-centric or Tamil Nadu may be struggling to contain an ep- marriage to Suriya in 2006 and the birth of her male-centric,” says Jyothika. “The protagonist is idemic explosion in the state, but the crisis was two children. But in 2015, when their belov- played by a female artist and not a male. Women not enough to distract many from a twin storm ed Jo was only remembered as a yesteryear are always equal to men. We can perform heavy involving actor Jyothika. First, social media actress who married a leading hero, she was roles or light roles like heroes when we have the users in the state attacked her when a clip of her back for round two. While many women confidence in ourselves.” speech at a recent award ceremony went viral. actors make such returns only to play sup- She ensures that she gets her scripts at least two In it, she asks why hospitals and schools are not porting roles as sisters or mothers, Jyothika months before the shoot commences, especial- receiving donations as much as temples do, af- chose strong characters that would fit her age ly since her comeback. She wants to go into the ter her experiences while shooting for Raatchasi and physique. “It is God’s grace that I got an sets fully prepared. “For Ponmagal Vanthal, I did (2019). Her husband and actor-producer Suriya opportunity to work in a film like Ponmagal extra homework and memorised all the dialogues, stood by her, issuing a strongly worded state- Vanthal,” she says. “I am really thankful to because I was up against [R.] Parthiban in a court- ment saying “let us sow love”. director [J.J.] Fredrick for making me play room drama. There are a lot of lengthy sequences,” Only days later, the couple were involved in the character. But I am also on a look she says. another controversy after it was announced out for such films that have strong The second film after her comeback was Magalir that her new film Ponmagal Vanthal would tion is ‘Let us all face it’. By the time Cov- characters.” Mattum (2017), where she played a young docu- have a digital release on Amazon Prime in May, id-19 ends, the smaller films might not get Her second stint began with 36 mentary maker, who takes her mother-in-law on a skipping its theatrical release. It resulted in a enough space in the theatres. So, I feel it is Vayadhinile (2015), the remake surprise trip to reunite with her friends. Next was war of words between producers and theatre fair to give small films a platform. I feel OTT of the Malayalam film How ace director Bala’s Naachiyar (2018), where she owners in the state as the couple silently fought is a podium for small films during such Old Are You? (Incidentally, was a foul-mouthed, aggressive cop who made to create a new normal difficult situations.” the original had also marked her fans flinch. She prioritised this over an offer to for digital releases of Ponmagal Vanthal the return of Malayalam star play the character that Nithya Menen eventually small-budget films. The will see Jyothika take Manju Warrier after a 14-year did in Vijay’s Mersal. By doing this, she once again exact release date is yet to “TO ME, AS AN ACTOR, on a character she break.) Though the movie did signalled her intent to only play characters that be announced as theatre has never played average in the box office, it challenged her. She had a highly successful 2019 owners have threatened THERE IS NOTHING before—an advo- laid the foundation for with Raatchasi, where she played a school head- to boycott all future Suri- CALLED WOMEN- cate who fights a Jyothika’s resurgence. mistress, then as a tough cop again with Revathi ya’s movies. CENTRIC OR male chauvinistic so- It was a movie that in the comedy Jackpot, and finally in the family In the eye of both ciety. Her fierce role is in invigorated Tamil drama-thriller Thambi, with her brother-in-law storms is a soft-spoken MALE-CENTRIC.... stark contrast to that of the Karthi. woman with an impec- WOMEN ARE ALWAYS cute, bubbly characters with “Jyothika has definitely broken the [mould] in cable reputation in the which she made her name Tamil cinema with her comeback,” says film critic industry. Seldom has an EQUAL TO MEN.” in the early 2000s. Jyothika Sreedhar Pillai. “No actress has had a successful actor been so admired —Jyothika, actor debuted with Priyadarshan’s stint like hers after a break. If Ponmagal Vanthal by Tamil women that Doli Saja Ke Rakhna (1998) does well on OTT, she becomes a star on this me- she commands a fierce loyalty, even in her 40s. before entering Kollywood in Vaali dium and her career gets extended. She has taken But Jyothika is a rarity, and has inspired many (1999), playing a second heroine. a wise decision.” homemakers in the state, particularly after She came to be known as Jo among When asked about women being abused on making a comeback in 2015 following a lengthy her new crop of fans; post-Vaali, social media, in light of the recent attacks on her, break. her film career rose steadily. Jyothika says there is an imbalance of sorts. “When “For every actor, director and producer, it is a She played lead roles opposite a woman talks about equal rights she is labelled as dream to have their films released in a thea- Suriya and Vijay and then with a feminist, which itself is a wrong term,” she says. tre. It is an accolade, seeing the fans cheer the Rajinikanth in Chandra- “We don’t say we want every right above men. We movie in a theatre,” she tells THE WEEK. “But mukhi (2005) and Kamal only say equal rights. Generally, women’s terms when the situation is extraordinary, my conten- Hassan in Vettaiyadu are always exaggerated. It is an imbalance I feel.”

68 THE WEEK • MAY 24, 2020 MAY 24, 2020 • THE WEEK 69 @LEISURE CINEMA

Paatal Lok Raazi

Raazi (2018), where he played Khalid and paved the way for his acting excelled. Hum bhi maan lete hain ki Mir, the Intelligence Bureau training career. Unlike many who would talk hum lambi race ke ghode hain, iss liye officer. Though it was a positive role, of their struggles in this industry, thoda dheere chal rahe hain [I also Ahlawat was still the tough guy. Ahlawat chooses to see it all as a believe that I am in for the long run, “I was always the sure one,” he says “nice experience”. “To be honest, I and therefore I am taking it slow].” of the characters he has played so never thought I would become an Growing up, Ahlawat used to far. “I think that people often take my actor. Fauji banna tha, aur actor ban entertain villagers with his dance struggling with his day-to-day life. physical traits—tall and broad—at gaye [I wanted to be a soldier, instead performances, sneaking into any “I have picked up his traits, the way face value. Maybe that’s why I am I became an actor],” he says. “Since and every wedding or celebration. he walks, his body language,” says always cast in such roles.” But strong then, I have had no other life but that “I love dancing. I still dance. Maybe BREAKING Ahlawat. men can be vulnerable, too, says of an actor. It’s good, isn’t it? Some- not everywhere, but I find it a form Paatal Lok, reportedly based on Ahlawat. “We all go through weak times, I feel it could have been better. of expression, a way to liberation,” Tarun J. Tejpal’s The Story of My moments and (such) life experiences But this is a part of life.” he says. THE MOULD Assassins (not credited in the show), are enough to tap into the vulnera- Being too eager and rushing No one in the film industry, takes the audience to the dark alleys ble aspects of a character,” he says. through your journey, he believes, however, has discovered his sing- Typecast in negative roles for long, of the political and the powerful, “It is good that finally someone may not work. “There are many ing, dancing side. “There are times I exploring the depths of human and else also thought that I could play a examples of people who rushed and feel that people should just stop the Jaideep Ahlawat is eager to experiment societal immorality. character like this, something that failed, while there are also exam- [serious] roles they are giving me and When Ahlawat talks of Chaud- no one could explore so far.” All he ples of people who took it slow and instead give me something fun where BY PRIYANKA BHADANI hary’s struggles, it seems like he is hopes for is getting something new I, too, get to dance, romance a girl, alluding to his journey in the enter- in every film. “Because every film do comedy,” he says, laughing. “If e is a man at odds with life, Chaudhary in Amazon Prime Video’s tainment industry, a journey that has has a tendency of stereotyping you,” "IF SOMEONE HAS someone has found the vulnerability vulnerable and unsure about new series Paatal Lok, says, “Hathi- been often marred with typecasting. he says, adding that after Raazi, he in me, I am sure soon people will also Heverything. Professionally ram is so vulnerable that you will He graduated from the Film and Tel- was offered roles that were similar to FOUND THE find the light-hearted guy that exists and personally, Hathiram Chaud- start loving him, sympathise with evision Institute of India in 2008, and Khalid Mir. “Even now I know that VULNERABILITY in me.” hary is down and almost out. No him. He is fighting really hard to be started his film career with a negative I will start getting cop roles. It is not He will next be seen in Tryst With one expects anything from the Delhi sincere in what he does. He is fight- role in Khatta Meetha (2010). While that I won’t do another cop role. I IN ME, I AM SURE Destiny, which recently won the best police inspector. But then there is ing for the space he deserves.” It was his portrayal of Shahid Khan in will do it by bringing a new twist to SOON PEOPLE WILL screenplay award at the Tribeca Film an attempt to murder a high-profile, interesting to study the perseverance Gangs of Wasseypur (2012) was no- the character.” Festival; Maqbool Khan’s Khaali Pee- prime-time journalist. Four sus- of Hathiram, his need and determi- ticed and applauded, it did not boost But Ahlawat did not always want ALSO FIND THE li, and a short film for Netflix directed pects are nabbed. And surprisingly, nation to always keep looking for his career. And, he had to contend to be an actor; he dreamt of donning LIGHT-HEARTED by Shashank Khaitan. For now, like Chaudhary is asked to investigate the the truth. The role, he says, often with playing a string of negative the olive green. But his Army dreams most of us, Ahlawat is home, re- case, gradually revealing the twisted reminded him of his father, a teacher characters in films like Commando were shattered when he could not GUY IN ME." reading his huge collection of Hindi tales from media and bureaucracy. (now retired) in Kharkhara village in and Vishwaroopam (both 2013). The clear the entrance exam. Theatre literature and binge-watching shows Jaideep Ahlawat, who plays Haryana and also a common man negative streak came to an end with helped him cope with that failure, like Lucifer and Unorthodox.

70 THE WEEK • MAY 24, 2020 MAY 24, 2020 • THE WEEK 71 @LEISURE PEOPLE CONTRIBUTORS / PRIYANKA BHADANI AND SNEHA BHURA COMPILED BY SUSAMMA JOY KURIAN Breezy tune Electronic music producer Ritviz Srivasta- va, popularly known as Ritviz, released a Eye on new dance-able music video called Thandi Hawa, a montage of dancing videos acquired visibility from fans in lockdown. The 23-year-old is already one of the most original singer-com- ALAYA FURNITUREWALA/actor Alaya to avoid being confused with Alia Bhatt. posers in the country’s electronic dance music A/ It didn’t make sense to keep the same name. I could scene, with popular numbers like Udd Gaye and have, but I just wanted my own identity. I couldn’t change it Barso. his January, Alaya Furni- entirely because people have known me as Alia for my entire turewala made a smashing life. But I thought if there can be a Ranbir and a Ranveer, Tdebut with Jawaani Jaane- there can be an Alia and Alaya. man. But her debut was followed Reel and real by a global pandemic which Q/ Of late, you have been very active on social media. Filmmaker Anand Gandhi, who shot to promi- restricted the things she could have How difficult is it to be creative now? nence with Ship of Theseus, has been working on his explored. But she has found ways to A/ Honestly, I finally have time to be on social media…. next film for the last five years. Titled Emergence, the keep herself busy. Excerpts from an I kind of lost what my identity was on social media and film follows four scientists in a race to save the world Lockdown interview: focused more on learning my craft, which I am glad I from a deadly pandemic. With the story turning out did. With the lockdown, social media is the only way to be eerily prophetic, what with Covid-19, Gandhi diaries Q/ Growing up, you were not keen that I can be visible right now…. It has given me time to is reworking the script. Earlier, the plan was to give on being an actor. After all that reluc- put thought into it and create things that people really information about the nature of a pandemic. “[Now], Jacqueline Fernandez, who tance, how has been the experience enjoy. But sometimes it gets irritating that you have to I can directly take the audience to the understand- is spending lockdown days so far? constantly post. These are very privileged struggles…. It ing of host behaviour manipulation of a parasite,” at Salman Khan’s farmhouse A/ It was that one moment when I was feels stupid even saying it, knowing what the situation he said in a statement. “I want to use a pandemic in Panvel, Navi Mumbai, acting and I remember feeling so much is out there and how people are having such a hard setting as a deeper investigation into the nature of recently uploaded a video of joy while doing it. It was so rewarding to time. There are so many problems. But one has to human identity and social behaviour.” her daily routine. In the lush see people watching me and then giving keep oneself productive and green environs, the actor has me feedback…. I am normally a planned engaged, otherwise mental been busy writing quarantine and organised person. This was the most health suffers. —Priyanka Bhadani journals, playing with stray impulsive thing I did. I dropped out of dogs, riding horses and more. filmmaking school and went into acting Delish read The actor’s last two releases— without even knowing if I could do it. Celebrity chef Pooja Dhingra will Drive and Mrs Serial Killer— And it all paid off. soon be out with an e-cookbook. on Netflix may have been The book will have 50 recipes criticised, but she seems Q/ You come from a family of artistes from her Le15 Café; everything unfazed. She looks pretty (mother Pooja Bedi, grandfather Kabir Bedi, from sauces and pickles to happy learning to climb grandmother Protima Bedi). They say star pancakes and waffles. The -Cov coconut trees and appre- kids have it easy. But you said you faced a few id-19 turmoil forced Dhingra to ciating the flora and fau- rejections. close her café in Colaba, south na. Meanwhile, she also A/ Everyone’s struggle and journey is different. Mumbai. In an Instagram shot an in-house music Some people get a film right after school, some post, she wrote, “I’ve

video with Khan, titled people struggle for years. When you get into this always wanted to write TWITTER COURTESY: Tere Bina. industry, you are never sure where you fall in a Le15 Cafe Cook- this spectrum. It also depends on luck, so much book. Definitely didn’t work, and a combination of so many things that expect to do it in the you cannot control. I was just very vocal about current circumstances! my story and what my journey was…. I am Nevertheless, doing glad that it took a lot of people by surprise. I this book made me very GETTY IMAGES am glad a lot of people listened. happy because now our recipes will live forever Q/ You also changed your name from Alia to in your kitchens.”

72 THE WEEK • MAY 24, 2020 MAY 24, 2020 • THE WEEK 73 LAST WORD BIBEK DEBROY

The identity crisis

few weeks before Covid-19 stopped the ty of mobile numbers. Lack of portable identity makes world in its tracks, I went to visit a city I it difficult to migrate, and migration is correlated with Ahave visited several times. I stayed in a hotel positive externalities and economic development. I stayed in earlier. It was not surprising that the Covid-19 has led to reverse migration. This has lady at the reception counter recognised me and once again flagged the lack of portable identity. tickled my ego. “Good afternoon, Mr Debroy,” she Had portable identity existed, returning migrants said. “Welcome back. Can I see some ID?” would not have faced problems of accessing govern- I asked her why she needed ID, since she recog- ment benefits. When the government is asked to do nised me. It was a facetious question. Of course, something for returning migrants, this is not an easy she needed ID. Those are the rules. Without ID, I do knot to unwind. In passing, what about the issue of not legally exist. It is for reasons like this that cases doing something for farmers? Do we have a unified of identity theft become serious. definition of farmer? Since the definition of farmer is Most Indians do not have an typically linked to land ownership, integrated ID. There is an assort- do we have satisfactory land-titling ed basket—Aadhaar, PAN, voter’s records? card, passport, driving licence, This is not only about an SC/ST certificate, bank accounts, individual. A similar problem ration card and MGNREGA job exists for enterprises. When the card. Sure, with Aadhaar, a begin- word enterprise is used, it is often ning has been made towards some automatically and unnecessarily form of national identity, inte- assumed that the corporate form grating it with Jan Dhan accounts, is contemplated. A small percent- direct benefit transfer, pensions, age of enterprises have corporate insurance and health care through form. There is a definition of Ayushman Bharat. But, in a largely Micro, Small and Medium Enter- informal economy and society, this prises. But registration of MSMEs is by no means complete. is not mandatory, just as it was not Note that this is about an individ- under the old Small Scale Indus- ual’s identity. In parallel, Union tries system. The MSME Census and state government programmes are linked to is old. For what it is worth, more than 95 per cent of the Socio Economic Caste Census, with that data- MSME enterprises lack legal identity. Forget Com- base used to identify beneficiaries. Let us ignore panies Act, they are not registered under any law. As valid questions about updating SECC and improv- is the case with individuals, returning migrants or ing its application in urban areas (It is more robust otherwise. Given that the government would like to in rural area). do something for MSMEs to counter adverse effects Note that both SECC and MGNREGA are about of Covid-19, how does one identify an enterprise? The a household’s identity. The individual and the identity is missing. There are ways to rectify this. For household need to be matched and it is still a work instance, Goods and Services Tax Network numbers in progress. can be a starting point. But, in this case, it is not as if The US is a prime example of how easy it is to this is work in progress. The work is yet to start. migrate from one part of the country to anoth- In the west, identity was historically driven by the er. That is true of many countries in the west. This church, with birth, marriage and death registered in is because of portability of identity. In contrast, in church. An Indian individual (and enterprise) needs India, we are often more concerned with portabili- portable identity from birth (entry) to death (exit).

ILLUSTRATION BHASKARAN Bibek Debroy is the chairman of the Economic Advisory Council to the prime minister.

74 THE WEEK • MAY 24, 2020 76 The Week RNI No.36122/1982, Registered No. KL/EKM/756/2018-20, Licence No. KL/CR/EKM/WPP-20/2018-20. Licensed to Post Without Prepayment. Published on Friday 15th May 2020