Our country has had the strangest reactions to the pandemic ever since it hit us - especially to doctors. While we clapped for them from our balconies we also forced them to vacate houses, harassed them while they grocery shopped, some were even assaulted and now the ones who have died treating patients are unable to find a final resting. All because people are refusing to allow the bodies into their localities. Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam leader Vijayakanth has decided to step in and help by offering his own college's land as a burial ground.
Earlier today, Chennai-based Dr Simon Hercules' family and friends were attacked by a mob with sticks and stones, when they had arrived at the cemetery to bury him. The doctor had died of COVID-19 even as he served the people till his last breath. Only a few people had gathered for the funeral but they were chased away and manhandled. The doctors were highly upset, scared and horrified by the incident. This is not the first time though, a week ago, another doctor who had died from COVID-19 was now allowed to be buried in Ambattur.
Vijayakanth has said that he would offer a portion in the Andal Azhagar Engineering College campus which was founded by him as a burial ground. In a statement, the actor and politician said that he was pained by the stories he had heard about people protesting against the burials of doctors and how they were refusing to allow them to enter their localities. "We all will die someday and all deserve a place where we can rest eternally. Looking at the way that doctors, who are next to God, are being treated I fear about how regular normal people are going to be treated," he said.
When even animals are buried with dignity and respect, the DMDK leader questioned how we can afford to treat a doctor this way, "I have also heard people are throwing stones at ambulances. The WHO and the state government have assured us that the Coronavirus will not spread if we bury the body. People have to stop believing false information and protesting against giving people a dignified burial," he said.
"If in the future, if people are protesting against burials, the government can make use of a portion at the College to hold burials," he offered. The leader also asked the government to take more steps to make the public aware that the virus doesn't spread through burials. "It is the responsibility of the state government to teach people so they don't continue to have false beliefs," he said.
