PM Narendra Modi Calls for Citizen’s Curfew on Sunday

NEW DELHI : In an attempt to prevent the implosion of Covid-19 cases in India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday called for a citizen’s curfew to be imposed in the country on Sunday (22 March), wherein citizens would chose to stay indoors from 7 am till 9 pm.

“Our efforts on 22 March, our self-restraint, there will be a symbol of determination to perform duty in the national interest,” Modi said and added, “The success of Janata-curfew on 22 March, its experiences will also prepare us for the challenges to come.”

From rapidly changing geopolitics to the threats of a global recession, the Covid-19 outbreak has roiled the world’s economy and brought global travel to a standstill. Crude oil prices and stock markets are in a tailspin with developed economies lining up stimulus packages and lock-downs to help protect their citizens from the pandemic’ unfolding economic and health impact.

“I am asking every citizen for their cooperation today. This is Janata Curfew. Janata Curfew means curfew put for the Janata, by the Janata,” Modi said while urging resolution and restraint on part of the citizens.

Amid an economic slowdown, Modi’s announcement comes at the time when the pandemic is being compared to the Spanish Influenza epidemic of 1918, wherein an estimated 10-20 million Indians died, making it the worst-hit country. From a Group of Ministers (GoM) set up to monitor the situation to a “mitigation plan” that involves roping in Employees’ State Insurance Corp (ESIC), defence, railways and paramilitary personnel; India is pulling out all stops to mitigate the crisis.

“I want to request one more thing, that those who are senior citizens above the age of 65, they should not go out of their homes for a few weeks,” Modi said while lauding the effort of the health workers.

Also, with more states enforcing heavy lockdowns in attempts to contain the spread of Coronavirus, consumers continued to rush to local grocery stores to buy goods of daily use leading to a significant demand for staples.

Modi also cautioned against panic buying.

Catch phrases such as ‘social distancing’ and ‘community transmission’ became a part of the lexicon amid concerns about an impending explosion in the number of Covid-19 cases in India. There is growing scepticism over how a nation of a billion-plus people could have an infection count of only 124.

“This is not a simple problem for a country like ours having a 1.3 billion population,” Modi said.

So far, the government has maintained that there is no evidence of community transmission of the disease, but that all patients that have been confirmed have acquired the disease during their international travel or from a relative who had a travel history.

Source: Live Mint(Published with Edits)

Image Courtesy: CNBC