So-called Sikh “super spreader” being blamed to “cover failures of the government”

A story about an alleged Sikh “super spreader” of the Coronavirus has been torn apart by various journalists and those close to the accused.

The Times of India’s I.P Singh and Sikh Siyasat’s Parmjit Singh have led the challenge against news articles vilifying the man from the likes of the BBC, NBC and Al Jazeera, whom for some reason decided to refer to the alleged spreader as a “Guru”.

This Thread is about Factless, Totally Misleading and Irresponsible Reporting by @AJEnglish

Here is link of #AlJzeera report — https://t.co/zrui3EJxe5

— ਪਰਮਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ || Parmjeet Singh (@iamparmjit) March 29, 2020

Around March 20 media reports came out of India claiming a victim of the virus, parcharak (educator, called preacher by media) Baldev Singh, had taken part in the annual Hola Mohalla (Sikh martial festival) celebrations at Anandpur Sahib in Punjab, which tens of thousands of others participated in.

Baldev Singh had arrived in India on March 6 from touring Germany and Italy, and it is alleged by Delhi airport authorities that upon his arrival airport staff asked him to self-isolate. However, Baldev Singh’s accompanying friend Sant (Saint) Gurbachan Singh has claimed no such instructions were given to the travelling party.

When Baldev Singh arrived back in India there were less than 50 cases registered in the entire country, whilst many cinemas and even the Taj Mahal were still open over a week later. However, COVID 19 screenings were being conducted by the airport. Furthermore, work by Sikh activist Deep Singh has led to the discovery that official Government of India guidance on quarantine protocol for travellers arriving from Italy was issued on March 10, four days after Baldev Singh arrived at Delhi Airport.

Having seen news outlets recently jump on the theory, based only on word from Delhi airport staff, that Baldev Singh “ignored” advice to quarantine, work by respected journalist Parmjit Singh uncovered a different story. Parmjit Singh alleges it was not until March 13 that Baldev Singh was mentioned on a list of travellers that should be advised self-isolate, based on him having visited Italy.

Representatives of India’s health department then apparently checked Baldev Singh’s condition on March 14. At the time, Baldev Singh was asymptomatic and thus cleared by the health department. It was not until March 16 that Baldev Singh fell ill before passing away on March 18, whilst it was a day later that it was revealed that he had in fact died of the coronavirus.

A little correction, report came on March 19, a day after his death. In rest of the world doctors suspect and tests confirm but according to some ultra-wise fellows in Punjab (Sidhu Mooaewala included) Baldev Singh knew on his own that he was infected.

Stupidity Epitomized.

— I P Singh (@ipsinghTOI) March 28, 2020

Sarpanch (head) of the Pathlawa village where Baldev Singh lived said the vilification of Baldev Singh, which includes lyrics mentioning him in a recently released song praising Punjab police by singer Sidhu Moose Wala, is to “cover failures of the government” in handling the virus. Sarpanch Harpal Singh says the party that travelled with Baldev Singh only mentioned being asked about having COVID 19 related symptoms, and were not instructed to quarantine.

Sarpanch of village Pathlawa says vilification against Baldev Singh based on Falsehoods, Debunks utterances of his Dubai based cousin, saying he just went by hearsay and was unaware of facts.
Says propaganda unleashed to cover failures of Govt systems pic.twitter.com/zktO9uGB7X

— I P Singh (@ipsinghTOI) March 30, 2020

Profoundly disturbed by the new Moosewala song 'Gurbaksh Gawaacha' (not linking), a thinly-veiled depiction of a news story about a 70 year-old man who recently returned from Italy and subsequently died from the illness in Nawanshahr. 2+ million views in less than a day.

— Navyug Saffuwalia (@navyuggill) March 27, 2020

Despite all of this information, major media outlets are still running with the story that Baldev Singh “ignored” advice to quarantine. It has since been revealed 19 of his family and many others he has been in contact with have also contracted the virus, with one family member also passing away from it.

Sikh PA will be contacting all media outlets that have published this story with the breakdown of facts collated through grassroots investigative journalism by I.P Singh and Parmjit Singh.