Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call for a 'Janta curfew', or a self-imposed lock down, on Sunday to curb the spread of Coronavirus, has elicited mixed reactions from the Opposition, with the Congress offering a nuanced reaction and other parties being more outspoken in their criticism.
The Congress, the principal opposition party, has supported the call for a citizens' curfew. This is in line with calls made by Congress leaders for urgent measures to be taken to contain the spread of COVID-19, including lockdown of major cities. Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram has been urging the government for an immediate lockdown of all towns and cities for two to four weeks to prevent the novel virus from spreading.
“The Congress and its workers will fully cooperate with the citizens' curfew. However, we want to appeal to the government to prepare for a situation where we might have to go in for a lockdown of large areas and a longer duration,” said Congress leader Ajay Maken.
“The government should ensure, in such a situation, that essential services continue unhindered. Water and electricity supply, telecommunications, Internet facility, availability of petrol and diesel, medicines, essential commodities and transport facilities should be available to the people,” he said.
The Opposition parties have, in the backdrop of Modi's call for a citizens' curfew, renewed their demand that the ongoing Budget Session of Parliament should be curtailed. Even as he welcomed the call for voluntary lockdown, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said there was a need for greater reinforcement of social distancing, including suspending Parliament.
“Government advisory asks people 65+ to stay home. Sunday curfew announced. And yet! Why is #Parliament running? Why this confused messaging? About 44 per cent MPs in RS and 22 per cent MPs in LS are 65 and above. Ignore advisory? And you yourself mostly missing from Parliament floor,” tweeted Trinamool Congress' Rajya Sabha MP Derek O' Brien.
There was criticism from the Trinamool about the speech lacking in terms of outlining short and medium-term solutions, the preventive measures being taken, the number of people screened and tested, augmentation of testing and treatment facilities, funds for fighting the disease, support for states and preparing a cohesive centre-states action plan.
March 29, 2020
The Opposition also asked why the Prime Minister chose to address the nation through a pre-recorded video message from the TV when Parliament session was on. He was also critiqued on the issue of cooperative federalism as he made announcements in his speech before his scheduled discussion with the chief ministers on the issue.
The CPI(M) criticised Modi's speech for not specifying what steps the government is taking to assuage the problems of people who are left without employment because of the Coronavirus.
“It is unfortunate that the PM has not spelt out in his much-advertised address anything about the government's preparation and actions taken to help people fight the coronavirus pandemic,” said CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury.
