Lockdown extended: Amit Shah assures there's enough food and medicines
After Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended the nationwide lockdown for almost three more weeks today, Home Minister Amit Shah, the second-most important man in the BJP-led government, put out a series of tweets saying that the country has enough stock of food, medicines, and other essential commodities. Speaking as a "Home Minister", he said no citizen should worry about essentials. Here's more.
Why was the lockdown extended?
Starting March 25, a 21-day lockdown was imposed in India to tackle the coronavirus menace. The pandemic has killed 358 in India and infected over 10,000. Noting that social distancing is a sure-shot way to limit the contagious disease, PM Modi extended the lockdown till May 3. He said all districts will be scrutinized till April 20 and relaxations will be announced after that.
Help poor, Shah urged affluent citizens
While extension was expected, PM Modi left many questions unanswered about what will happen next. He said a set of guidelines will be released tomorrow. And in a bid to quell panic which sparked after the speech, Shah assured citizens that essential items are in stock. "I also request the affluent people to come forward and help the poor living near them," he wrote.
States and Centre need to work together, Shah stressed
Calling for improved coordination between states and the Centre, Shah wrote, "Now, we have to intensify this coordination so that all citizens follow the lockdown properly and no citizen should have the problem of the things they need."
He also appreciated the efforts of frontline warriors
The first announcement was criticized for being inhumane to migrants
When the first lockdown was announced weeks ago, it was met with tales of sorrow of migrant workers. Left jobless, they returned to their native places. Most of them traveled thousands of kilometers on foot. The government was criticized for not thinking the decision through. Days later, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a package worth Rs. 1.7 lakh crore to help the underprivileged.
Congress criticized PM Modi for not announcing any relief aid
Notably, this fresh announcement was criticized by Congress, whose leaders slammed PM Modi for not saying anything about relief aid. Claiming that experts' opinion was ignored, Former Finance Minister P Chidambaram tweeted, "The poor have been left to fend for themselves for 21+19 days, including practically soliciting food. There is money, there is food, but the government will not release either money or food."
Tharoor supports the lockdown but was expecting more
And Chidamabaram's party colleague Shashi Tharoor said he supported the lockdown extension but expected more. "But he should have also announced serious relief for those who cannot make ends meet. MNREGA payments, Jan-Dhan accounts, GST dues to states,&aid to sweeten the pill, (sic)" the parliamentarian tweeted. In yet another tweet, he posted a poem in which he said the battle will continue till victory.
