'Completely nonsense': Historian Yuval Noah on Muslims being blamed for COVID-19 in India

• He urged the people in India to not act with hatred but with solidarity, both with other countries and especially with different communities within India.

World-renowned historian Yuval Noah Harari has expressed his concerns on Muslims being blamed for the spread of the novel coronavirus in India and has termed it as 'complete nonsense'.

Speaking to Indian channel India Today TV, Harari said he was worried when he heard people blaming the spread of the pandemic on minorities, especially on Muslims. He said people in India are blaming the pandemic as a 'deliberate act of terrorism' by Muslims. "This is completely nonsense and it is extremely dangerous. In this time we do not need hatred," he said.

He urged the people in India to not act with hatred but with solidarity, both with other countries and especially with different communities within India.

.@harari_yuval has a very strong message for India today https://t.co/mBvlINfQLJ

— Jairaj Singh (@JairajSinghR) April 15, 2020

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata party (BJP), has claimed that Tablighi Jamaat members intended to infect millions as part of an Islamic conspiracy and were carrying out 'corona terrorism', media reported.

Kapil Mishra, a local BJP leader notorious for hate speeches, tweeted: “Tablighi Jamaat people have begun spitting on the doctors and other health workers. It’s clear, their aim is to infect as many people as possible with coronavirus and kill them.”