Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal drew the ire of social media on Friday after a promotional video went viral where he reportedly claimed that consuming a certain brand of papad would help a person produce antibodies to fight the novel coronavirus.
“Under the Atma Nirbhar Bharat campaign, a papad manufacturer has come up with a brand of crisps called Bhabhi Ji papad. It will help in the formation of antibodies that are required to fight coronavirus. We congratulate this firm for coming up with this initiative under the Atmanirbhar India campaign,” a report in Business Today quoted the Union Minister of State for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation and of Parliamentary Affairs as saying.
As per a report by India Today, as soon as the video surfaced on social media platforms, it went viral. Reports also said that the minister has been criticised for making misleading and “unscientific claims” on coronavirus treatment
The company which has manufactured the papad is from Bikaner in Rajasthan and claims that the edible product has gilloy and other immunity-boosting ingredients.
Meanwhile, Meghwal’s claims have also given fresh fodder to meme creators on social media. Here is how some people reacted to the minister’s claim on social media.
Morning – I drink gaumutra
Lunch- I have Patanjali’s Coronil
Evening- I chant 100 times ‘Go corona go’
Dinner- I have started eating Bhabhiji #PapadNow I don’t need the vaccine. pic.twitter.com/TXWu1Nq8Tw
— Harsh Goenka (@hvgoenka) July 24, 2020
Modiji's union minister showing this rubbish idea of " Bhabhiji Papad" to fight Corona.
This nonsense is danger to our Country.
BJP & Modi supporters, What are you guys even following? ? https://t.co/KiZRMBLi3B— Surbhi Dwivedi (@DwivediSurbhi) July 24, 2020
Corona's Antibody from Bhabhiji Papad ? That's great news!?So stop wasting time & money in making corona virus vaccine @WHO @CMRDELHI @PMOIndia @BharatBiotech @ZydusUniverse @UniofOxford Listen china , we can fight with yr chinese virus even with papad-Said by a BJP Minister. pic.twitter.com/qtCo1Vpncv
— Bulbul ? (@gShreyaThakur) July 24, 2020
