Hindustan Times (Jalandhar)

Gajraj irked by Covid-19 rumour mongering

- Juhi Chakrabort­y juhi.chakrabort­y@htlive.com

Amid Covid-19 pandemic, there is a constant flow of misinforma­tion on social media and messaging apps, condemning which, actor Gajraj Rao urges people to not just stop the virus but also check on the spread of unauthenti­cated informatio­n. “Usse hum sabko bachna chahiye. I’ve asked my friends and family to verify the messages they get on messaging apps and check authentici­ty. This is not a relay race or a kho kho match — if you get a message, it’s no compulsion that you’ve to forward it. People must control their actions,” he asserts. Elaboratin­g on how the menace of rumour mongering is amplifying the struggles of administra­tion, he adds, “This creates undue pressure on the administra­tion — the police and the government”. The actor, 59, also laments on how even after relentless efforts of authoritie­s, and multiple lockdown extensions, some people are not realising the gravity of crisis and flouting protocols.

“This is a situation that nobody has faced. It’s an unchartere­d territory. But that doesn’t mean we’ll do as we please. That will fail the efforts of so many who’re working round-the-clock to control the crisis,” the actor rues, while asserting that such concerns are global as even in other countries people aren’t acting very responsibl­y.

“I was watching an American news channel recently and I saw how people are still thronging to a Florida beach (US),” he shares.

 ?? PHOTO: RAAJESSH KASHYAP/HT ?? Gajraj Rao
PHOTO: RAAJESSH KASHYAP/HT Gajraj Rao

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from India