'COVID Made on God's Computer', Says State Minister From PM Modi's Party
14:38 GMT 26.08.2021 (Updated: 18:38 GMT 13.05.2023)
© AP Photo / Saaliq Sheik
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COVID-19 has hit India particularly hard, especially between April 2020 and June 2021, leaving thousands of children orphaned who are now struggling to survive in the grim reality of the pandemic's aftermath. In the past year, more than 430,000 Indians died of the virus, according to the federal Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Chandra Mohan Patowary, Transport Minister in BJP-governed Assam state, said on Thursday that coronavirus was made on "God's computer" and that "God has listed all the people" who are painfully dying of the infection.
"COVID-19 is created in god’s computer. God has a list prepared of those who will die of it. That’s why footpath dwellers - despite not wearing masks - are not infected with the virus. And why the [World Health Organisation] hasn’t been able to invent a drug for it," said Patowary, a BJP politician, during a press interaction.
Atanu Bhuyan, editor-in-chief of renowned news channel from north-east India, DY365, tweeted Patowary's statement, thereby landing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) member in hot water.
Shocking remark of Assam BJP minister @cmpatowary who said “Covid created in God’s computer. And God has prepared list of those who will die of it. That’s why footpath dwellers not infected despite not wearing masks. why #WHO hasn’t been able to invent a drug 4 it.” @PMOIndia
— Manoj Anand (@manojananda) August 26, 2021
This is real shocking and irresponsible for a Minister to comment. @cmpatowary https://t.co/eGYfmwx4Cj
— aboyob bhuyan (@aboyobbhuyan) August 26, 2021
Very very irresponsible comment by @cmpatowary on #COVID19 . His comments undermine all the tireless work done by Covid warriors led by HCM @himantabiswa https://t.co/6XzQRUdlnr
— Bhaskar "Papukan" Gogoi (@BhaskarGogoi) August 26, 2021
14 April 2021, 14:02 GMT
In the past year, Assam has lost 5,607 people to COVID, according to the latest records of India's Health Ministry.
Earlier this month, the Assam's state government announced it would relax lockdown restrictions.
Health experts from the state have alerted authorities to the fact that in the case of a third wave, the state will suffer an acute shortage of beds. At present, Assam has 7,707 cases of COVID-19, government figures reveal.
