“Burying Head In Sand”: Rahul Gandhi, Prashant Kishore Slam Centre’s “Positivity” Push

As the central government faces huge uproar domestically and internationally for mismanagement of the Covid-19 situation, it has now been pushing for “positivity” to fend off criticism.

As the central government faces huge uproar domestically and internationally for mismanagement of the Covid-19 situation, it has now been pushing for “positivity” to fend off criticism. This, however, has not gone down well with the Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who called it “burying one’s head in the sand” and a betrayal of citizens.

“The false assurance of ‘positive thinking’ is a joke on those families and health workers who have lost their loved ones and are suffering a crisis of oxygen, hospitals and medicines. Burying one’s head in the sand is not positive – it is a betrayal of our citizens,” the Wayanad MP tweeted.

सकारात्मक सोच की झूठी तसल्ली स्वास्थ्य कर्मचारियों व उन परिवारों के साथ मज़ाक़ है जिन्होंने अपनों को खोया है और ऑक्सीजन-अस्पताल-दवा की कमी झेल रहे हैं।

रेत में सर डालना सकारात्मक नहीं, देशवासियों के साथ धोखा है। pic.twitter.com/0e1kRxrAZI

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 12, 2021

Poll strategist Prashant Kishor, who managed Mamata Banerjee’s poll campaign in the recently concluded West Bengal election, called it “disgusting” to push “propaganda” in the name of spreading positivity.

“In the face of a grieving nation and tragedies unfolding all around us, the continued attempt to push FALSEHOOD and PROPAGANDA in the name of spreading POSITIVITY is disgusting! For being positive we don’t have to become blind propagandist of the government,” Mr Kishor tweeted.

In the face of a grieving nation and tragedies unfolding all around us, the continued attempt to push FALSEHOOD and PROPAGANDA in the name of spreading POSITIVITY is disgusting!

For being positive we don’t have to become blind propagandist of the Govt.

— Prashant Kishor (@PrashantKishor) May 12, 2021

The sharp reactions from both Mr Gandhi and Mr Kishor come after reports of a new strategy of the government, the ruling BJP and its ideological mentor Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to tackle the massive criticism at home and abroad of the Narendra Modi government’s handling of the Covid second wave.

Central government officials, including joint secretary-rank officials, were made to attend a workshop on better communication and highlighting of the government’s “positive work”, as per reports.

Union Ministers have been posting on social media platforms about the efforts being taken in the movement of Oxygen Express and stories and articles on the government’s outreach.

Earlier, while asking for suggestions for its next show, the official Twitter handle for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s monthly radio address ‘Mann Ki Baat’ mentioned that the powerful message of positivity needs to be communicated.