I feel like keep writing about the current Covid situation in the world and about India in particular, since its currently the worst effected nation in the world. What has the country gone through in past 3-4 weeks is not only mind boggling but very frustrating at the same time. The worst thing that has happened during this period and continues to happen is the world media hype which is not only unprecedented but utterly shocking at the same time.

During my residing in New Zealand for over 16 years, I have never seen the media frenzy in New Zealand like this, especially in the time of crisis. New Zealand’s mainstream TV channels appeared to be competing with each other in showing the burning pyres and crying people, repeatedly. Generally New Zealand media has a reputation of not reporting news items containing depressing or negative tone, but they made an exception while reporting India. Stock shots were used to show the plight of people in India, interviewing people who are stranded in India and tried showing anything that is gory. I remember the kind of shamefully low-key reporting New Zealand’s mainstream media did when President of India, Pranab Mukherjee paid a state visit to New Zealand in 2016. The same TV channels covered his visit in around a minute in the news bulletins which was so disgraceful for the stature of the President of India.

I hold strong views that New Zealand mainstream media is just a mere extension of the biased and vociferous western media and it only follows its masters in CNN and the BBC. There is a much bigger conspiracy behind all the western media noise to show India and the Modi government in particular, in bad light. The magnitude of this conspiracy is so big that it is beyond the imagination of a common man. All the anti-India forces have come together in an effort to make the Modi government unpopular by creating public dissent and anger through fake news and false narratives. They may appear to have succeeded to some extent momentarily, but all these anti-India forces will be exposed soon when India bounces back.

Every Indian needs to understand that this pandemic is just a temporary phase, and this crisis will also pass away soon. This is the time for every citizen to show their firm determination and grit to fight it out. No government in the world can fight a problem of this magnitude on its own, it is the people who fight the battle. There are several countries in the world who cannot see India rising and being self-sufficient or a world power. They will make every effort to pull India down by hook or crook. These forces have not been much successful in their efforts in past 6-7 years since Modi government took over. The real forces behind all the protests happening in India, one after other, have become so desperate now that they have stoop to the lowest level of vulture journalism. In connivance with some corrupt Indian politicians, they are trying to create fear and panic among people and are appealing people to revolt against the government. The time will come soon when all these forces and their nefarious designs will be exposed. This vulture media refrains from showing any positive news that despite of all the gloomy scenario, over 98% people are recovering from pandemic in India. Indian government has mobilised its entire machinery which is working 24/7 to minimise the loss of lives. The aid is pouring from all over the world to India in the time of crisis but unlike vulture media, they are not making any noise about it.

Pandemic and calamities will come and go but the damage being done by India’s enemies (both internal & external) will be deadlier than the disease itself. So, it is time to be really careful about the flood of misinformation being spread by our enemies and our country’s enemies. Just be a little patient now and this phase will be over soon. – Yugal Parashar