This has brought the Modi govt some respite as the majority community is rendered catanonic by the heroine-like bliss of this extreme communalisation.

But the fallout could be severe: there is now a massive trust deficit between health authorities and the Muslim community. https://twitter.com/samar11/status/1246334669970264065">https://twitter.com/samar11/s...

A good way to see how this is panning out is to track the Indore case, where rumours flew thick and fast in a low-income Muslim area.

Still perplexing why the powers-that-be chose such a risky strategy at this delicate stage. https://www.newslaundry.com/2020/04/03/a-whatsapp-message-a-video-and-paranoia-inside-the-attack-on-healthcare-workers-in-indore">https://www.newslaundry.com/2020/04/0...

As can be expected, now even BJP states are scambling desperately to put a lid on the repercussions of the massive Islamophobic media+social media campaign run wrt Covid.

UP police has a string of these since yesterday.

Bizarre handling from the top. https://mobile.twitter.com/firozabadpolice/status/1247031313925681152">https://mobile.twitter.com/firozabad...

Adityanath has now adopted the playing of audio clips at religious places as per advice given by Sunni cleric Maulana Kahlid Rasheed.

[What a crazy, bizarre difference in how Centre BJP and Adityanath is behaving wrt to the communalising of Covid]

https://www.news18.com/amp/news/india/religious-places-in-up-to-play-audio-clip-raising-awareness-on-covid-19-yogi-adityanath-calls-for-unity-2566791.html">https://www.news18.com/amp/news/...

Add to that for context: the IT cell + most news channels haven& #39;t inexplicably picked up this gruesome UP crime to outrage over. https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/up-man-shot-dead-at-tea-shop-for-blaming-tablighi-jamaat-for-coronavirus-spread-1663552-2020-04-05">https://www.indiatoday.in/india/sto...

Let me make it even stranger: Adityanath is also a douser.

UP police has spent the last two days calling out media houses (including obviously ANI)

[Hint: all dousers are state leaders responsible for law and order.] https://mobile.twitter.com/St_Hill/status/1247769636222799874">https://mobile.twitter.com/St_Hill/s...