New Delhi: In a nationwide televised address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Thursday asked the world’s second most populous country of more than 1.3 billion people to follow a self-imposed public curfew on Sunday, which could also be extended for a few weeks. This unprecedented measure shows the urgency in a developing country like India, which is ill-prepared to contain a mass global pandemic of this scale and ferocity with its limited resources.
“My fellow countrymen, you have never disappointed me whenever I have asked for your support,” said Prime Minister Narendra Modi while seeking support for a self-imposed mass public lockdown that is unprecedented in recent decades.
“This is a public curfew, imposed on the people, by the people for the public good, (Janta Ke Liye, Janta Ke Dwara, Janta Ka Lagaya Curfew),” said Prime Minister Modi.
While outlining the details of this self-imposed homestay, Prime Minister Modi said that this self-imposed public curfew will be observed for a day on Sunday (March 22), from 7 AM in the morning to 9 PM in the night.
“During this self-imposed public curfew, no citizen should venture out of their homes or roam around in their localities except those who are working in the field of critical services,” he said in his appeal to the nation.
However, it is believed that this self-imposed public curfew could be extended for a few weeks as at the start of his address, Prime Minister Modi asked the people a few weeks of their time as he prepares the country for the bigger battle with the virus in the coming days.
“My countrymen, today I have come to ask for a few weeks time of yours,” said the Prime Minister Modi, while expressing his concerns that a perception has gained currency among the people that nothing will happen to them due to this extremely infectious and deadly virus that has killed more than 9,000 people across the globe and the number of confirmed cases has also gone up to over 2 lakh people.
Prime Minister Modi said this one day public curfew will be a symbol of the nation’s resolve and prepare it to face the challenge in the coming days.
Mindful of the inconvenience that it will cause to the general public, the Prime Minister said it will test the resolve of the nation and the public to fight off a global pandemic like Covid-19.
“We will have to make a pledge that we will completely follow the directions given by the Union and state governments,” he said.
No cure, no vaccine
“So far, science has not been able to provide a definite treatment for the virus and no vaccine for it has been developed either,” said the Prime Minister Narendra Modi while explaining the challenge before the global scientific community.
He said the only way to protect yourself is to maintain social distancing while asking the citizens to remain alert to protect themselves, their families and the country.
“The world is well when I am well,” said the Prime Minister while underscoring the need for a person to first protect himself to be able to help others.
Resolve & Restraint key to fight Covid-19
Prime Minister Modi said a steadfast resolve and self-restraint was important in fighting off a pandemic like Coronavirus as the rising cases in the country also forced his hands to seek public support for observing self-imposed home-stay to prevent community infection.
Explaining the need for a restraint, he said: “What is restraint? It is avoiding the crowded places, it is to avoid stepping out from your homes. This social distancing is extremely essential and effective in fighting off this global pandemic.”
“If you think that you will continue to visit markets, crowded places and still be protected from the coronavirus then it is not true,” he said.
Extraordinary situation!
The Prime Minister said that this is not an ordinary challenge for a developing country like India that has a population base of more than 1.3 billion people.
“This is wrong to assume that this global pandemic will not have any impact on India when the world’s big and developed countries are grappling with its challenge,” he said.
His address comes on a day when the country has confirmed the fourth death from the coronavirus while a suspected patient committed suicide by jumping off from Delhi’s Safdarjung hospital.
Sudden explosion in the number of cases in some countries
Talking about the highly infectious nature of the novel coronavirus, Prime Minister Modi said it has been observed that wherever the virus has spread in the world, the number of cases has suddenly gone up after a few days.
“It seems the number of cases has exploded all of a sudden,” he said, adding that the Government of India was keeping a close watch on the spread of this global pandemic in the world.
“However, there are some countries that have controlled the situation by isolating the maximum number of their people,” he said.
He said the people played an extremely important role in these quarantines.
While China was able to contain the virus by locking down its most affected area in Wuhan region once it acknowledged the problem, countries like South Korea and Japan were quick to contain the situation and prevent the spread of virus there.
However, European countries like Italy and France, and Iran that did not impose restrictions on their people have been facing a severe crisis due to the Covid-19 virus.
Don’t resort to panic buying
While urging the citizens to follow a nationwide self-impose public curfew, the Prime Minister also appealed to them not to resort to panic buying or stock pile daily use items and grocery.
“Essential supplies will be maintained and there is no need to resort to panic buying,” he said.
Prime Minister Modi also appealed to the business community to take care of the people employed by them and do not deduct their salaries due to suspension of business activity as these low income workers are considered to be the most vulnerable section during the times of such crisis.
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