The Sunday Guardian

‘PM has motivated every citizen to become a soldier in the war against corona’

- NAVTAN KUMAR NEW DELHI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assumed the role of the captain of Team India in the country’s fight against the coronaviru­s pandemic, taking with him all the stakeholde­rs and the people at large. As a result, by and large there is approval among all the political parties of the way the government is dealing with the unpreceden­ted crisis.

In fact there is a general sense not only among the different political parties, but also people at large that the decision to impose the 21-day lockdown was timely and needs to be extended further to consolidat­e the gains achieved in this period. While there may be difference­s over the time period for which the lockdown should be extended, there is general unanimity that it should be extended. There is also a consensus that the hot zones should be isolated completely in order to ensure that there is no community transmissi­on.

Though there were minor difference­s over the PM’S call to light candles as a show of unity or to beat thalis to express gratitude towards the frontline workers, the fact remains that by and large, all political parties are standing united in this hour of crisis. While there was criticism of the government after thousands of migrant labourers assembled at Anand Vihar in Delhi in order to reach their native places after the announceme­nt of the lockdown, but there was also appreciati­on of the fact that the situation was brought under control very swiftly. According to political observers, the country has witnessed constructi­ve and positive politics through the coming together of all sections of polity, which is quite rare, to present a united front in this battle. This has been possible because of the PM’S approach of taking everyone with him.

This week, PM Modi interacted with floor leaders of political parties in Parliament, via video conference. Before that and again on Saturday he interacted with Chief Ministers of different states so that each state was on board on India’s war against the coronaviru­s. He has also interacted with heads of Indian missions, social welfare organisati­ons, Ayush practition­ers etc. He has spoken to people from different sections of society, in order to take their inputs, for example, healthcare, busithe

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