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Op-ED DECEMBER 31, 2021 | The Indian Eye 16

Omicron, Modi

and the show in Varanasi

Views and opinions from the top commentators in Indian media

he government of India’s
(GoI’s) warning to state gov-
Ternments on Omicron includes
keeping public health infrastructure
in operational readiness. But what
about boosting healthcare workers’
immunity against the virus? A study
published in Lancet has just shown
that protection accorded by the As-
traZeneca vaccine (Covishield) dips
three months after the second dose.
Currently, healthcare workers num-
bering around 70 lakh (nearly 70%)
are those who took their second dos-
es over six months ago. If the highly
infectious Omicron variant surges in
India too, many health workers can
get infected. This, in turn, will reduce
healthcare capacity to treat patients.
Fearing this, the Indian Medical
Association and some state govern-
ments have urged GoI to approve
booster doses for health workers.
Also note that WHO recom- nents, especially in Uttar Pradesh. such as Qatar, have been gener- Alexander Cunningham, as late as
mends that those jabbed with inacti- That is a fine line of democratic be- ous in providing aid, while the first 1837. There may also be legitimate
vated virus-based vaccines, Covaxin, havior that many of our worthies in tranche of Saudi aid began just two grounds to quibble over the pre-em-
in India’s case, must also get boost- politics have often violated but I was days before the meeting, with some inence attached to the lingam at the
er list priority. Bharat Biotech’s in- shocked when it came from no less a six aircraft flying in aid to Kabul. A Vishweshwur (Vishwanath) temple
tra-nasal vaccine is apparently the person than the PM. But that is noth- second tranche is via 200 trucks from when pre-Islamic texts indicated the
booster for those jabbed with Covax- ing compared to the recent show at Pakistan. That’s good for Pakistan centrality of the Manikarnika ghat
in – but the timeline for its clearance Kashi, all dedicated to the glory of in more ways than one. It allows Is- — now used as a cremation ground.
is not clear. the Hindu religion, spread over two lamabad to show itself as a benefac- However, regardless of the shift-
-- Editorial, The Times of India days and covered live by all media tor, and that is good for the economy ing contours of the sacred space and
channels and comprehensively by the since all that aid will be bought from the rejigging of the wider pilgrimage
tHe KaSHi corridor entire print media. “Is India a secular Pakistan. This pattern is likely to be route, the exceptional importance
democracy anymore?” is a question followed if other OIC countries fol- of Kashi in the Hindu ecosystem is
he recent inauguration of a on many people’s lips, while the ma- low suit. undeniable. It has always been the
municipal road in Kashi, the jority celebrate it as the final revenge -- Tara Kartha, The Quint ‘eternal city’, a place that — in the
TLok Sabha constituency of the of history taken by the present prime words of Bholanauth Chunder, the
prime minister, was converted by him minister for all the wrongs done by varanaSi Factor Bengali author of a two-volume trav-
into a grand show of devotion to the the Muslim invaders in the past. elogue published in 1869 — is “thor-
Hindu religion — like the inaugura- -- Yashwant Sinha, The Indian Express aranasi or, more precise- oughly Hindoo — from its Hindoo
tion or foundation-laying functions ly, Kashi, has, since antiqui- muts and mundeers, its Hindoo idols
of earlier projects at Ayodhya, Badri- PaKiStan’S oic SHow Vty, had a remarkable hold on and emblems of worship... a bona
nath, Kedarnath and other Hindu the imagination of Hindus. Histo- fide Hindoo town, distinguished by
religious places, all at a considerable he (OIC) meeting adopted a rians may differ over exactly when its peculiarities from all other towns
cost to the government exchequer. resolution committed to set- Kashikshetra — the sacred space upon the earth.”
These events have raised many ques- Tting up a Humanitarian Trust on the banks of the river Ganga — -- Swapan Dasgupta, The Telegraph
tions of propriety in a secular democ- Fund by early next year, with mem- became so important in the ritual (India)
racy. In an earlier article, I had talked bers, Islamic financial institutions life of Hindus or whether it is right Every week, we look at what the top
about the crossing of the “Lakshman and international institutions invited to include the Buddhist center at commentators in the Indian media are
rekha” by the PM, when I noticed to donate to this. A special envoy was nearby Sarnath as an integral part talking about and bring to you a slice
that he was freely using government appointed, and a Food Program has of the traditional Kashi panchkro- of their opinions and comments
functions organized at government been set up, both of which are good shi, considering that it was re-dis-
cost to lambast his political oppo- initiatives. Individual OIC members, covered by the British archaeologist,

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