Prime Minister Narendra Modi prolonged the tough Covid-19 lockdown rules now in force till May 3 and showered praise on all Indians for enduring the stay-at-home rules but added that there could be some loosening of curbs after April 20 outside of hotspots to allow operation of certain essential activities.
In a televised address to the nation, Modi said that detailed guidelines would be released Wednesday on relaxations in certain sectors, most probably including agriculture, which might otherwise be badly hit.
However, the Prime Minister’s fourth broadcast since the Covid-19 pandemic began was conspicuously silent on any larger economic package to prevent a sharp slowdown in the coming months. Instead, it stuck to generalities with Modi showering praise on all Indians saying, “for the sake of your country, you are fulfilling your duties like a disciplined soldier.”
Modi said the government would be keeping a district-level eye on the entire country to ensure that new disease hotspots did not emerge. “Until 20th April, every town, every police station, every district, every state will be evaluated on how much the lockdown is being followed,” he warned.
The Prime Minister’s speech received mixed reactions with people saying they had expected more substantial announcements about government measures both to counter the disease and also on how specific sectors could be kickstarted back to life.
The Congress Party soon after the speech backed the lockdown extension but said the government had done nothing for migrant workers stranded at the borders of several states. Congress spokesman Manish Tewari also pointed out that, “He also did not talk about ramping up mass testing in the country for Covid-19 and did not specify steps taken to increase the purchase of personal protection equipment.”
Similarly, Rahul Gandhi tweeted: “India delayed the purchase of testing kits and is now critically short of them.” He added: “With just 149 tests per million Indians, we are now in the company of Laos (157), Niger (182) & Honduras (162).”
Indications that there would be no substantive announcements during today’s (Tuesday) 24-minute speech came early on when the Prime Minister started out by mentioning that it was Dr B. R. Ambedkar’s birthday and that, “This display of our collective strength, by us, the people of India, is a true tribute to Baba Saheb Doctor Bhim Rao Ambedkar, on his birth anniversary. Baba Saheb’s life inspires us to combat each challenge with determination and hard work.”
The Prime Minister also enumerated what he felt were his government’s early actions to counter Covid-19 and said that but for these the pandemic might have had a more devastating impact on the country. “Long before we had even a single case of Corona, India had started screening travellers coming in from Corona-affected countries at airports. Much before the number of Corona patients reached 100, India had made 14-day isolation mandatory for all those coming in from abroad. Malls, clubs and gyms were shut down in many places.”
He added: “When we had only 550 Corona cases, then itself India had taken the big step of a 21-day complete lockdown. India did not wait for the problem to aggravate. Rather, we attempted to nip the problem in the bud itself, by taking quick decisions as soon as it arose.”
Modi argued that the government’s actions had produced the desired results: “It is clearly evident from the experience of the past few days, that we have chosen the correct path. Our country has greatly benefited from social distancing and lockdown.”
The 21-day lockdown which has been in force since March 25 was scheduled to end Tuesday and indeed many businessmen had been hoping that a limited return to work would be allowed so that their businesses would not suffer further.
Soon after the Prime Minister’s speech, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation announced that regular commercial flights would be suspended till May 3 and the railway ministry announced that regular train services would also be suspended during the extended lockdown period.
The decision to prolong the lockdown did not come as a total surprise. Seven state governments including Odisha, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Maharashtra had already announced that the lockdown would continue before the Prime Minister’s speech. Maharashtra has been the worst hit by the pandemic with more than 2,330 cases recorded on April 14 at 8am. The state has also had 160 fatalities, far higher than any other state.
Modi also offered words of praise for state governments which have had to do most of the work in controlling the infection. He said: “The state governments have also acted with great responsibility in this, managing the situation round the clock. I have been in continuous touch with the states on how the fight against Corona should progress in India. Everyone has suggested that the lockdown should be continued. Many states have in fact already decided and declared to continue the lockdown.”
The Prime Minister also pointed to the fact that the rabi crop is being harvested now and that the kharif would have to be sown soon. “The Central and State governments are working together to minimise the problems of the farmers,” he added.
The Prime Minister ended his address by appealing to the nation to follow seven steps or, as he noted, “saptapadi”. He entreated Indians to take care of the elderly and advised people to take care of themselves. “Follow the instructions issued by AYUSH ministry to enhance your immunity. Regularly consume warm water, ‘kadha’ (with spices),” he said.
The other five suggestions were: observe the lakshmanrekha of lockdown and social distancing amid use of home-made masks’ download the Arogya Setu app and encourage all others to do so, help the poor and needy with food, do not lay off employees of your businesses and enterprises in these difficult times, and last, extend all help and cooperation to “our covid warriors” who include doctors, nurses, ward boys and all others providing essential services.