A BJP MLA from Shivajinagar, Pune has lashed out at Bajaj Auto MD Rajiv Bajaj (and alike) for their constant criticism of the nationwide lockdown imposed by the Central government till May 3.
Siddharth Shirole, the MLA took to Twitter, calling Bajaj’s statements ‘deplorable’. “It is deplorable that you are willing to sacrifice the life of our elders and the vulnerable for the so called (your version) greater good. Using terms like Herd Immunity which again have no scientific legitimacy is in my opinion just reflective of your bias,” he tweeted.
With all due respect we are in amidst an unprecedented pandemic, there is no historical data, no scientific study that can with certainty predict the mortality of a non locked-down vs. a locked-down India…all predictions are purely based on intuition and dispostion (2/N)
— Siddharth Shirole (@SidShirole) April 23, 2020
Adding that a country that doesn’t care about the well-being and the welfare of its elders cannot be called a country, Shirole added that his country would not let the weak and marginilised die.
It is deplorable that you are willing to sacrifice the life of our elders and the vulnerable for the so called (your version) greater good. Using terms like Herd Immunity which again have no scientific legitimacy is in my opinion just reflective of your bias (4/N)
— Siddharth Shirole (@SidShirole) April 23, 2020
“Maybe a MD can choose between life of his employees and profit..but the government can’t. It won’t,” he added.
Jaan hain to jahan hain.. Jobs will return, the economy will survive.. some of our Indian brothers and sisters may not !
Maybe a MD can choose between life of his employees and profit..but the Government cant, it won’t..
(6/6)— Siddharth Shirole (@SidShirole) April 23, 2020
Bajaj has been quite vocal about his opposition of the lockdown, saying that it isn’t a long-term solution. He opined that the lockdown was “arbitrary and not an answer to the economic crisis” and said that India should have opted for a selective lockdown, rather than a “sweeping general lockdown”.
“As far as the health or medical problem is concerned, we know very well that the lockdown is not going to be the long term answer,” he told the publication. Bajaj said that while there was talk of flattening the curve, this was not a concept that he subscribed to in its entirety.
He had earlier emphasised that India should have focused on keeping vulnerable at home and closed public spaces, rather than enforcing a pan-India lockdown that affected everyone.
“I don’t buy the condescending argument that all Indians are a bunch of illiterate, ignorant, indisciplined morons who need cattle-like shepherding,” Bajaj had said.
His statements have evoked mixed responses in India.
