New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a complete lockdown across the country for 21 days from Tuesday midnight, asserting that social distancing is the only way out for the country in its decisive battle against the coronavirus.
In his second address to the nation on the pandemic raging across much of the world with the number of infections rising in India, the prime minister made a fervent appeal to the countrymen not to cross the ‘lakshman rekha’ of their homes in the next three weeks.
Any negligence in these 21 days will ‘push the country and your families by 21 years’, Modi said underlining the massive danger the coronavirus poses.
The experience of countries that have been able to contain the virus to some extent and experts’ views have made it clear that social distancing caused by a lockdown is the only way to break the cycle of the infection, Modi said. “This is the only ray of light,” he asserted.
“To save India, to save every Indian, there will be a complete ban on people from stepping outside their houses from 12 midnight today. Lockdown is being imposed on every state, Union Territory, district, village, mohalla and street,” Modi added.
The lockdown will be like ‘curfew’ and more stringent than the ‘janata curfew’, which the country had observed on Sunday, Modi informed. He added it will have an economic cost but saving people’s lives is of the paramount interest to his government.
A lockdown in most of the country was already in place till March 31, and Modi’s announcement extended it everywhere and for two more weeks after this month.
Modi folded his hands a few times to emphasise his request to citizens to adhere to his call. He said it is applicable to everyone from the prime minister to a citizen in a village.
“Some people suffer from this wrong mindset that only infected persons need to follow social distancing. Such a view can endanger lives of others and their families,” Modi warned.
No need to panic
Allaying apprehensions, the prime minister also said people need not panic about availability of essential commodities and medicines during the 21-day nationwide lockdown as the Centre and various state governments will work together to ensure the smooth supply.
Modi requested people to refrain from ‘panic buying’. “My fellow citizens, there is absolutely no need to panic,” Modi tweeted soon after his address to the nation.
“Essential commodities, medicines etc would be available. Centre and various state governments will work in close coordination to ensure this,” Modi said. “Together, we will fight COVID-19 and create a healthier India,” added Modi.
Agencies