The entire world is in a state of shock after the novel coronavirus outbreak impacted lakhs of people’s lives. So far, more than 6,000 people have passed away linked to coronavirus and more than 2 lakh people were affected by the virus infection. In India alone, the confirmed positive cases of coronavirus have surpassed 150.
The coronavirus disease has sabotaged the international calendar of sporting events across the world. The Board of Control for Cricket in India has postponed the Indian Premier League until mid-April while also calling off the ODI series between India and South Africa. Further details are awaited.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked the citizens not to panic and asserted that the Indian government is taking necessary steps to prevent the fast-spreading disease. It has been learnt that the coronavirus pandemic has claimed the lives of at least 3,158 people in China alone and 4,325 worldwide, as per the experts. It has affected nearly 120,000 people in a dozen countries globally.
Amid the novel coronavirus outbreak, a Non-political Islamic organization Tamil Nadu Thowheed Jamath (TNTJ) is staging a protest in Chennai demanding the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) be revoked and that the state Assembly pass a bill against National Population Register (NPR).
Without even caring about the lives of public, thousands of protestors- children, women and the elderly people gathered near the Madras High Court metro station in what they call a ‘Jail Bharo’ protest.
The TNTJ protestors were heard shouting slogans “even corona has killed only 2 people, but CAA has killed over 80” and “we would rather die of corona than as refugees in our own country”.
The organizers said that the protest is being conducted despite the partial shutdown amid coronavirus fears, as it was a pre-planned event.
Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu government on Monday ordered for the closure of schools, colleges, malls, theatres, amusement parks, pubs, swimming pools, gymnasiums and TASMAC bars all over the State till March 31 amid the coronavirus outbreak gripping India. Chief Minister Palaniswami added that these measures would take effect from Tuesday onwards.
Speaking to Republic TV, BJP Spokesperson Narayanan Thirupathy said, “The Thowheed Jamaat is saying from a few days back that protest will happen. I am disappointed that the state government did not arrest them two days back. Highly irresponsible and immature from Tamil Nadu police and govt. Those who flouted the law should be arrested.”
With inputs from The Republic.