The sudden 21-day lockdown to stop the spread of the Coronavirus has left lakhs of labourers and migrant workers without money, food or shelter. Social welfare groups, student and activists across the country have come forward to help them. Some students of Kolkata's Jadavpur University decided to feed these helpless people. But a Facebook post on ABVP's Jadavpur University unit's page claimed that these students were having a picnic in the midst of the lockdown and accused them of bringing the 'Chinese virus' to India. The post was deleted later. Attempts to reach out to the organisation has been in vain. The copy will be updated once they reply.
The Arts Faculty Students' Union's General Secretary, Shubhayan Acharya Mazumdar, strongly condemned the incident and said that this is a time to support each other rather than spread rumours. "We started cooking and distributing food to the homeless and the daily wage labourers who stay around the university area. While the lockdown might have been necessary, it put these people between a hard place and a rock. We are trying to help them in whatever way we can," he said. "The post put up on the ABVP Jadavpur University Facebook page not only said that we are organising a picnic but also said that leftists have brought the Chinese virus to India. This is not just demeaning but misleading as well. We request you not believe these false facts and stay supportive towards everyone — irrespective of their religion, gender, caste or creed," he added.
AFSU Chairperson Teerna Bhattacharya said that it is unfortunate that helping the daily wage labourers get a square meal is being termed as a picnic. "We condemn this hatred of politics and urge everyone to stand together. This initiative was not only by the Arts Faculty but by everyone from the university. The students got the groceries themselves and cooked at a parking lot on campus. The food was then distributed to people living in the streets and slums around the university, around 120 of them," she added.
