Why are Indians demanding Bill Gates’ Arrest?

Tech giant Bill Gates is currently facing criticism from Indians, and they are demanding his arrest.

Just weeks after announcing his divorce, Indians slammed the Microsoft founder for his unwillingness to share Covid-19 vaccine rights with developing countries.

Now, he is in the firing line once again for funding and conducting a controversial programme back in 2009.

Bill Gates is being accused of funding a programme of testing and sterilising indigenous vaccines on tribal children.

The funding came from Gates’ NGO, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF).

Reports also suggest that the BMGF conducted the clinical vaccine trial on tribal children without the consent of their parents.

Indians are not happy, and #ArrestBillGates has been trending on Twitter.

According to a GreatGameIndia report, Seattle-based NGO Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH) and the BMGF conducted trials in Telangana’s Khammam district.

PATH administered the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine to 14,000 tribal girls aged between 10 and 14.

According to the report, many of the girls fell ill, and four of them died.

The girls participating in the vaccine drive stayed in government-run hostels. Therefore, their parents were not aware of what was taking place.

Now the story surrounding the unauthorised clinical trials has resurfaced, netizens are calling for Bill Gates’ arrest.

Hansraj Meena, a socio-political activist and founder of Tribal Army, took to Twitter to share the news.

This is a story where a foreign entity uses 14,000 Indian tribal girls as guinea pigs. Several died and many had severe side effects. But the company and its drug prosper and make millions. There was a pact of silence globally. #ArrestBillGates https://t.co/7Oo5ds1o7U

— Hansraj Meena (@HansrajMeena) May 30, 2021

In a tweet from Sunday, May 30, 2021, Meena said:

“This is a story where a foreign entity uses 14,000 Indian tribal girls as guinea pigs. Several died and many had severe side effects.

“But the company and its drug prosper and make millions.

“There was a pact of silence globally. #ArrestBillGates.”

Many Twitter users have responded with their own opinions on the matter, and want Bill Gates brought to justice.

One said: “Finally people are knowing these tribes are not lab rats to test.”

Another wrote: “He should be punished for his heinous devil act.”

A third tweeted: “Justice for our tribal sisters.”

Each person tweeted using the hashtag #ArrestBillGates.

It is shameful for a person like @BillGates to conduct a vaccine trial on illiterate women of the same caste for centuries. Take strict action soon US administration. Raise the voice of Bill Gates by raising the whole world.#ArrestBillGates @POTUS@KamalaHarris @WhiteHouse pic.twitter.com/o92DfTyGB8

— Sunil Astay (@SunilAstay) May 29, 2021

Sunil Astay, a member of the Azad Samaj Party, said:

“It is shameful for a person like @BillGates to conduct a vaccine trial on illiterate women of the same caste for centuries.

“Take strict action soon US administration. Raise the voice of Bill Gates by raising the whole world.”

Astay also mentioned US President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and the White House’s official Twitter account in his tweet.