When there was racial tension in Singapore amidst controversy over Delta variant origin

By Atanu Roy*
“What is there in a name”, a popular phrase originated from Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet". May be Shakespeare never imagined on the looming controversy surrounding Covid B1617 variant. B1617 variant has been the most contentious and ravaging Covid-19 variant from the very outset. A series of claims and counter claims ensured, whether B1617 variant originated in Singapore or India.
Some called it Singapore-Variant, some Indian-Variant and the World Health Organisation (WHO) finally devised a naming scheme with Greek alphabets which labelled it as Delta variant, the ‘variant of concern’ as per the WHO.
Arvind Kejriwal, Chief Minister of Delhi, had tweeted to flag his concern over a "new form of corona found in Singapore", calling on the Indian government to cancel flights from Singapore. The variant he was referring, was in fact, first found in India, as confirmed by the WHO.
The Delta variant is considered more easily transmitted from human to human, and was what fuelled the massive spread of the virus in India. This variant was first picked up in India last October, but is believed to have made its way to Singapore and other countries later.
Kejriwal did not “speak for India”, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar declared after Singapore’s Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan objected to his claim that a highly infectious variant of COVID-19 affecting children came from Singapore. Jaishankar’s comment came after Singapore summoned the Indian envoy to protest Kejriwal’s remarks.
Singapore is a multiracial country, proportions of races are Chinese 76%, Malay 15% , Indian 7.5% , Others 1.5%. Total population of 5.6 million live in a complete racial and religious harmony.
Singapore is quite popular among expats (there are over 1.5 million), one will be able to meet people from around the world when one lives here.
Citizens of different races live at peace and in harmony with one another. The children and young people have the benefit of studying together in integrated schools and living in public housing, where people across different races live together. The workplaces are racially diverse. There are no ghettos in Singapore. The legal system protects the fabric of racial harmony.

Singapore allowed expats intake from different countries including India, as such, even after the Delta Variant surfaced. Proper precautions were in place, but some slippage, due to the unique nature of the Delta variant, caused an influx of expats carrying B1617, Delta variant. It led to some Delta clusters, and government had a trying time to contain the spread.
The rapid spread of Delta variant caused some panic, and Singapore witnessed some racial tensions, leading to unfortunate incidents. An Indian woman was confronted by a Chinese man for not wearing her face mask properly while brisk-walking. The man abused her verbally, using a racial slur, and kicked her.
In another incident, a Chinese man confronted a mixed-race couple in Orchard Road, telling them that it was a disgrace for a Chinese girl and an Indian man to be together. The government has taken adequate steps to stop further repeat of any such racial offensive, as it feels that, there is simply no justification for racist attacks, as simple as that.
The Delta variant, first identified in India, in October 2020, has become by far the most dominant strain in many countries. It now accounts for almost all new Covid-19 cases in the US, Britain, Russia, Germany, South Africa and Singapore, among other countries.
The Delta variant of the coronavirus has played havoc with many governments' plans to return life to some sense of normality. Fresh outbreaks fuelled by the highly infectious strain have forced major cities in China, Australia, the Philippines and elsewhere back into lockdown and spurred the authorities, particularly in Asia, to reimpose harsh restrictions as low vaccination rates leave people vulnerable to Covid-19.
Economies have taken a hit as manufacturing hubs like Thailand and Vietnam see their supply chains interrupted. Factories making goods for global brands are halting work and potentially missing out on the crucial holiday shopping season in major markets.
The most worrying, findings, till date are the diminishing efficacies of the vaccines to counter Delta and people with completed vaccines are getting hit, though in small numbers, as compared with the non-vaccinated.
To conclude, Delta variant has created controversies, as to where it originated, how it got originated and till date we don’t have a clear picture of its nature and directions.
---
*Belonging to Kolkata, relocated to Singapore in 1997, chartered accountant, heading an IT outfit

Comments

Countrywide protest by gig workers puts spotlight on algorithmic exploitation

By A Representative A nationwide protest led largely by women gig and platform workers was held across several states on February 3, with the Gig & Platform Service Workers Union (GIPSWU) claiming the mobilisation as a success and a strong assertion of workers’ rights against what it described as widespread exploitation by digital platform companies. Demonstrations took place in Delhi, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Maharashtra and other states, covering major cities including New Delhi, Jaipur, Bengaluru and Mumbai, along with multiple districts across the country.

CFA flags ‘welfare retreat’ in Union Budget 2026–27, alleges corporate bias

By Jag Jivan The advocacy group Centre for Financial Accountability (CFA) has sharply criticised the Union Budget 2026–27 , calling it a “budget sans kartavya” that weakens public welfare while favouring private corporations, even as inequality, climate risks and social distress deepen across the country.

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

'Gandhi Talks': Cinema that dares to be quiet, where music, image and silence speak

By Vikas Meshram In today’s digital age, where reels and short videos dominate attention spans, watching a silent film for over two hours feels almost like an act of resistance. Directed by Kishor Pandurang Belekar, “Gandhi Talks” is a bold cinematic experiment that turns silence into language and wordlessness into a powerful storytelling device. The film is not mere entertainment; it is an experience that pushes the viewer inward, compelling reflection on life, values, and society.

From water scarcity to sustainable livelihoods: The turnaround of Salaiya Maaf

By Bharat Dogra We were sitting at a central place in Salaiya Maaf village, located in Mahoba district of Uttar Pradesh, for a group discussion when an elderly woman said in an emotional voice, “It is so good that you people came. Land on which nothing grew can now produce good crops.”

The Epstein shock, global power games and India’s foreign policy dilemma

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* The “Epstein” tsunami has jolted establishments everywhere. Politicians, bureaucrats, billionaires, celebrities, intellectuals, academics, religious gurus, and preachers—all appear to be under scrutiny, even dismantled. At first glance, it may seem like a story cutting across left, right, centre, Democrats, Republicans, socialists, capitalists—every label one can think of. Much of it, of course, is gossip, as people seek solace in the possible inclusion of names they personally dislike.

Michael Parenti: Scholar known for critiques of capitalism and U.S. foreign policy

By Harsh Thakor* Michael Parenti, an American political scientist, historian, and author known for his Marxist and anti-imperialist perspectives, died on January 24 at the age of 92. Over several decades, Parenti wrote and lectured extensively on issues of capitalism, imperialism, democracy, media, and U.S. foreign policy. His work consistently challenged dominant political and economic narratives, particularly those associated with Western liberal democracies and global capitalism.

Paper guarantees, real hardship: How budget 2026–27 abandons rural India

By Vikas Meshram In the history of Indian democracy, the Union government’s annual budget has always carried great significance. However, the 2026–27 budget raises several alarming concerns for rural India. In particular, the vague provisions of the VBG–Ram Ji scheme and major changes to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA) have put the future of rural workers at risk. A deeper reading of the budget reveals that these changes are not merely administrative but are closely tied to political and economic priorities that will have far-reaching consequences for millions of rural households.

Penpa Tsering’s leadership and record under scrutiny amidst Tibetan exile elections

By Tseten Lhundup* Within the Tibetan exile community, Penpa Tsering is often described as having risen through grassroots engagement. Born in 1967, he comes from an ordinary Tibetan family, pursued higher education at Delhi University in India, and went on to serve as Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile from 2008 to 2016. In 2021, he was elected Sikyong of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), becoming the second democratically elected political leader of the administration after Lobsang Sangay.

Search This Blog