Mallika Dua Seeks COVID-19 Help, Twitter Cries "VIP Culture" After Aviation Min Responds

Mallika Dua and Hardeep Puri trolled: Twitterati has erupted in protest alleging "VIP culture" after Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri responded to a personal COVID-19 emergency request from stand-up comic Mallika Dua on Sunday. The massive trolling has seemingly driven Dua off the microblogging website, where her account no longer exists as of May 17.

Dua's parents - doctor Chinna Dua and journalist Vinod Dua - have both contracted COVID-19. Her mother, 60, is in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Medanta, Gurugram, as per Dua's social media updates and required Tocilizumab injections.

Dua, seeking the same on Twitter - which has become a mass helpline of sorts during the pandemic - tagged Congress leader Deepender Singh Hooda, who said necessary help would be organised via his team. Hooda's tweet further received a response from Puri, who gave a number to call, saying he had arranged the injection.

After necessary help reached Dua's mother, the 31-year-old took to social media to express gratefulness to Puri. "Thank you so much @hardeepspuri for your prompt action on helping me procure Tocilizumab for my mother. It has been delivered to the hospital by me just now."

The Twitter exchange between Dua, Hooda and Puri is no longer available on the social media platform.

Mallika Dua And Hardeep Puri Trolled After "Pandemic Privilege" Called Out 

While one section of social media is all praises for Puri's prompt action in arranging the medicine for Dua, another section is outraging on claims of "celebrity culture" that is affording more help to some than others.

Twitter, in the past few weeks, has turned into a hotspot of COVID-19 resources with everyone - from citizens, actors, politicians and police officials - coming together and connecting help to the needy. The "blue tick privilege," however, has led many to highlight that the help being organised is lopsided.

Others have also trolled Dua - who is a strong critic of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) - for receiving help from a central minister.

Here are some reactions on social media:

Problem isn't that Hardeep Singh Puri helped Mallika Dua.

Problem is that he helped when he wasn't even asked whereas a common man keeps pleading the entire jamaat of ministers & none bats an eye.

— Deepika Narayan Bhardwaj (@DeepikaBhardwaj) May 17, 2021

We live in a country where being rich & poor matters the most.#MallikaDua pic.twitter.com/N96jRa1Ag5

— Tweetera🐦 (@DoctorrSays) May 17, 2021

I have no problem with any top minister of BJP helping Mallika Dua who abuses BJP 24*7.

The problem occurs when these ministers in Power ignore the common citizens of our country and rush to help privileged elite people like Mallika for their validation.

This is the difference.

— Madhur (@ThePlacardGuy) May 16, 2021

Dear @BJP4India & Ministers,

You're bound to serve people. You're available for help for Saba Naqvi or Mallika Dua! When commoners reach out to you, you don't show the same enthusiasm in helping out!

Instead, the IT cell will how show our Fatality Rate is low! Have some shame!

— Preetam Rao (@Preetam_M_Rao) May 16, 2021

So now bhakts are attacking @HardeepSPuri for helping Malika Dua with an injection for her Covid infected mother? What kind of scum can have issues with a minster helping anyone?

— Swati Chaturvedi (@bainjal) May 17, 2021