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Coronavirus lockdown: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan allows sale of liquor as ‘lack of alcohol may cause social problems’

OpIndia Staff
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Coronavirus lockdown: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan allows sale of liquor as ‘lack of alcohol may cause social problems’

The Chief Minister of Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan, on Monday announced that the state government will allow sale of alcohol amidst coronavirus lockdown to those with “valid doctor’s prescription”. He said that the sudden unavailability of alcohol may lead to social problems. Hence, the state government has asked the Excise Department to provide liquor to those with a valid doctor’s prescription. Moreover, the Department has been tasked to treat alcoholics exhibiting withdrawal symptoms in de-addiction centres in the State. The Kerala Government is also planning to start the online sale of liquors.

The decision of the Communist party government in Kerala has drawn the ire of both the Indian Medical Association and Kerala Medical Association. Dr Abraham Varghese, IMA State President, reportedly said that such a move cannot be accepted on scientific grounds. “Doctors have no legal liability to give a prescription to get them liquor,” he added stating that handing out such prescriptions may lead to cancellation of a doctor’s licence.

Even though Kerala accounted for only 1 death due to Coronavirus infection, around 9 people have died due to the unavailability of alcohol. 7 out of 9 had reportedly committed suicide. However, Kerala has the highest number (194) of coronavirus positive cases in the country as of 30th March 2020.

On Friday, a 38-year-old man had allegedly committed suicide at Thavanur near Kunnamkulam, Kerala after he failed to get liquor during the countrywide lockdown. The deceased had been identified as Sanoj. The relatives of the deceased said that he was upset for the past two days following the non-availability of alcohol. Sanoj, who worked as a painting worker was found hanging in his room in his house on Friday morning.

Arunachal Pradesh: 21-year-old Indian youth abducted by China’s People’s Liberation Army, says memorandum to Governor

OpIndia Staff
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Arunachal Pradesh: 21-year-old Indian youth abducted by China’s People’s Liberation Army, says memorandum to Governor

The Tagin Cultural Society (TCS) in Arunachal Pradesh has alleged in a memorandum to the governor that a 21-year old youth was abducted by China’s People’s Liberation Army from Asapila sector near the McMahon line in the state’s Upper Subansiri district. Togley Singkam and his friends, Gamshi Chadar and Ronya Nade, had gone to collect traditional herbs from the land belonging to the Naa clan of the Tagin community and also for fishing.

“On the fateful morning of 19th March, the three friends were busy fishing when the Chinese security personnel ambushed them. While other two friends could successfully escape, Tongle Sinkam was abducted at the gunpoint by the Chinese security personnel,” the TCS said in the memorandum to the governor. “He did not cross the LAC or any international border. On the contrary the Chinese security personnel who picked him up in inhuman way had rather transgressed into Indian territory thereby violating international norms/law that guides such matters,” it said.

The McMahon Line separates Tibet from Arunachal Pradesh. China claims the northeastern state of India as its own like it claims a lot of other territories that do not belong to it as its own. The friends of the abducted youth informed the TCS upon their return and Singkam’s family filed a complaint at the Nacho police station on the 23rd of March, the memorandum said. Upper Subansiri’s superintendent of police Taru Gusar told PTI that the Nacho police station’s officer-in-charge has been sent to the spot for a detailed inquiry. The governor’s office has confirmed that the memorandum has been received. Officials at the Army’s Eastern Command headquarters in Kolkata said they are checking the details with its personnel posted in the area.

The TCS has urged the governor to take up the matter with the Center and secure Singkam’s release. It was further said that the Tagin community lives in the border areas and such incidents make their lives miserable. The alleged abduction comes at a time when the world is struggling to grapple with the Wuhan Coronavirus pandemic unleashed by China into the world. While the world’s attention remains focused on the pandemic, China has been selling faulty equipment and has upped its ante on the military front.

Mujeeb Mohammed, the Infosys employee who urged people to ‘spread the coronavirus’, followed Zakir Naik on social media: Report

OpIndia Staff
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Mujeeb Mohammed, the Infosys employee who urged people to ‘spread the coronavirus’, followed Zakir Naik on social media: Report

The Infosys employee in Bangalore, who was arrested by the Police for urging people to spread the Wuhan Coronavirus among the population, has turned out to be a fan of the radical Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, Deccan Herald has reported. Mujeeb Mohammed had written in a post on social media, “Let’s join hands, go out & sneeze with open mouth in public. Spread the virus.” Later, he was fired by his employers as well.

Mujeeb has been charged under IPC sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence and language), 505 (statements conducting to public mischief), 270 (a malignant act to spread the infection of disease dangerous to life) and 109 (abetment, if the act abetted, is committed in consequence of the abetment).

A police officer has reportedly said that Mujeeb Mohammed followed Zakir Naik on social media and watched, ‘liked’ and shared the Radical Islamic preacher’s speeches. “He is into the habit of posting messages that hurt the religious sentiments of other communities,” the officer claimed. Another of Mujeeb Mohammad’s posts says, “My stun gun is ready-killing dogs”. Mujeeb Mohammed’s post urging people to spread the virus had created quite the furore on social media. Netizens demanded strict action from Infosys, adding that such people are a threat to society. Mujeeb was subsequently apprehended by the police.

Zakir Naik has been the inspiration for many radicalized individuals in recent times. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) had said in October last year that most of the 127-odd terrorists arrested by security agencies in India for suspected ISIS links were inspired by the speeches of the radical Islamic preacher currently living in Malaysia.

Islamists wish death upon Nirmala Sitharaman after Finance Minister of German state committed suicide over Coronavirus outbreak

OpIndia Staff
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Islamists wish death upon Nirmala Sitharaman after Finance Minister of German state committed suicide over Coronavirus outbreak

The Finance Minister of Germany’s Hesse state, Thomas Schaefer, committed suicide due to concerns over his country’s economy, amidst the Wuhan Coronavirus outbreak. His body was discovered near a railway track on Saturday. When the news of his death surfaced, everyone was left in a state of shock. While some Netizens paid tribute to him, others called the decision to end his life, a wrong choice. Meanwhile, brainwashed radical Islamists took to Twitter to wish the same fate upon India’s Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

Aleem Siddiqui is a Mumbai based doctor.

Orthopedic Surgeon Aleem Siddiqui wants FM Nirmala Sitharaman to die
Screengrab of his LinkedIn profile

Other rabid Islamists too rejoiced and wondered when Sitharaman will also face similar fate the FM of the German state.

Recently, former Chief Election Commissioner DY Quraishi had wished that PM Modi dies of coronavirus. However, he later on claimed that he did not mean it.

Modi government has been battling coronavirus with proactive steps: Here are the key developments since January

OpIndia Staff
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Modi government has been battling coronavirus with proactive steps: Here are the key developments since January

As the Wuhan coronavirus pandemic has gripped almost the entire world, many countries have taken extreme measures to arrest the spread. The Indian government headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi had taken pro-active steps to counter the Chinese pandemic.

From screening every passenger entering the country, setting up quarantine facilities to enforcing a nation-wide lockdown, the government has been working on a war-footing. A series of decisions taken by the Modi government has limited the impact of the pandemic in the country.

In a series of tweets, Akhilesh Mishra, CEO of BlueKraft Digital Foundation, explained the detailed break up of Modi government’s pro-active steps to fight the health crisis and presented the details on how the centre swung into action soon after China notified about the Coronavirus infection on January 7.

Here is a timeline of the decisions taken by the government of India to handle the Chinese epidemic COVID-19:

January 7, 2020: China notified the world about COVID-19. The WHO officials announced they had identified a new virus. The novel virus was named 2019-nCoV, identified as belonging to the coronavirus family.

January 8, 2020: The Health Ministry under the Indian government did its first mission meeting to discuss the necessary actions to be taken.

January 17, 2020: The Indian government decided to take pre-emptive steps to limit the pandemic. The Modi government started screening of all passengers arriving from China.

January 25, 2020: Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Modi chaired a high-level review meeting on the instructions of PM. Dedicated teams from central government begin inspection of all airports. Nearly 20,000 incoming travellers from 115 flights at seven airports were screened for the transmission. All state hospitals were put on alert and kept in the loop.

January 27, 2020: The central government had held a cabinet meeting to review preparedness to counter the Chinese pandemic. Health Ministry held a review meeting with all the Principal Secretaries of the state to review the preparedness.

The government of India asked all the airlines to report illness of any passengers on all flights directly or indirectly connected with China.

January 29, 2020: The government of India banned the export of N95 masks and Personal protective equipment (PPE).

January 30, 2020: The first case was confirmed in Kerala’s Thrissur district in a student who had returned home for a vacation from Wuhan University in China. WHO declares Chinese COVID-19 as a health pandemic. Six labs were identified for testing.

January 31, 2020: Quarantine facilities are set up by the Indian government at Manesar and Chawla camp for the people who return from China. Another facility with 50-bed critical care centres was set up at Safdarjung hospital, New Delhi. By the end of January, quarantine facilities were set up and testing labs were identified. 

February 1, 2020: Modi government began evacuation of Indian citizens stuck in China. India evacuates 324 passengers from Wuhan, China using Air India flights.

February 2, 2020: India evacuated remaining 330 Indians and 7 Maldives nationals from Wuhan, China.

February 3, 2020: PM Modi constituted an Empowered Group of Ministers (E-GoM) headed by Health Minister to tackle emerging situations.

The Government of India put up advisory against travel to China and suspends all types of e-Visas given to Chinese passport holders. By the end of February, travel advisories were extended to other places like Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, etc.

February 7, 2020: Health Minister gave a statement in the Parliament: A total of 1,39,539 people returning from 1275 flights were already screened. 150 passengers who were suspected to have carried the symptoms were sent to quarantine facilities. Integrated Disease surveillance network tracking was done for almost 7,000 people. 305 symptomatic travellers referred to isolation centres and being monitored.

February 13, 2020: Health Minister Dr Harshavardhan addressed media on the status, actions that have been taken and the preparedness of all the states, ministries concerned.

February 22, 2020: Modi government issues travel advisory to people visiting Singapore.

February 24, 2020: Vietnam, Nepal, Indonesia, Malaysia added to the screening list

February 26, 2020: Another travel advisory issued by the central government to avoid travel to South Korea, Iran and Italy.

Air India evacuated another batch of 76 Indians and 36 foreigners from Wuhan, China.

March 3, 2020: India’s began its actions to tackle COVID-19. The Modi government introduces universal screening for all incoming passengers at all airports. There were just six reported cases of COVID-19 infections in India by March 3.

Prime Minister in a high-level meeting reviewed the country’s preparedness and interacts with various ministries and state governments.

March 4, 2020: Prime Modi Narendra Modi sends a direct message as he announced that he will not participate in any ‘Holi Milan’ programme as experts have advised reducing mass gatherings to avoid the spread of coronavirus.

March 7, 2020: PM Modi held another review meeting to stake stock of the situation. The government of India issues new quarantine guidelines to all the passengers who had returned to India, asks to self-monitor themselves and follow the recommended DOs and DONTs.

New visa restrictions imposed on visas granted to France, Germany and Italy. Regular visas granted to all foreign nationals who had travelled to these countries also suspended.

March 10, 2020: Indian Air Force evacuated 58 Indian pilgrims from Iran.

March 11, 2010: The Indian government suspended all visas to India except diplomatic visas till 15 April 2020. India also suspended visa-free travel facility for OCI card holder’s till 15 April 2020 and all the Indian nationals coming from COVID-19 hit nations after 15 February needed to be quarantined for 14 days.

Another 44 passengers were evacuated from Iran on 11 March. 83 people were evacuated from Italy by Air India.

March 12, 2020: Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted on urgency and importance of the situation. PM Modi asked the nation to not panic over the coronavirus outbreak. In a social media post, PM Modi urged the nation to ‘say no to panic, say yes to precautions’.

The Prime Minister assures that the government was “fully vigilant about the situation due to COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus. Across ministries & states, multiple steps have been proactively taken to ensure the safety of all. These steps are wide-ranging, from the suspension of Visas to augmenting healthcare capacities.”

March 14, 2020: With positive cases still below 100, 52 labs were set up to test the symptomatic patients.

March 15, 2020: Under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, the leaders of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) member nations connected with each other via video-conference to formulate a strategy to tackle the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in the region. The idea to hold the discussion via video-conference was proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi who called on his SAARC contemporaries in this regard on March 14.

Prime Minister Modi, in collaboration with the SAARC, announces to set up COVID-19 Emergency Fund based on voluntary contributions from member countries. India announced US$10 million as its initial contribution to support the initiative.

March 18, 2020: At below 175 cases, India decides to quarantine all passengers travelling from or transitting through four GCC countries -Qatar, UAE, Kuwait, Oman. The government also bans travelling to European Union (EU), EUFTA, Turkey and the United Kingdom.

March 19, 2020: With still less than 200 cases, Indian reacts to the global pandemic in a war mode. Prime Minister Modi addresses the nation in the wake of Wuhan coronavirus epidemic. Prime Minister Modi urged citizens to follow resolve and restraint. He also called for a ‘Janta Curfew’ (public curfew) on March 22.

The government decided to set up a COVID-19 Economic Response Task Force to monitor the economic impact that is being caused due to global pandemic.

All incoming international flights to India stopped after 22nd March. Export of ventilators prohibited.

March 20, 2020: Prime Minister Modi interacted with all the Chief Ministers of all the states, requests for augmenting facilities and greater support to vulnerable sections of the society.

March 21, 2020: The centre puts 75 districts on lock-down. PM Modi interacts with the Pharma industry and urges the industry to work on manufacturing RNA testing kits for COVID-19 on a war footing.

March 22, 2020: Janata Curfew to be followed across the country. The Indian Railways stop all its services across the country, except goods movement from March 22. Metro, inter-state transportation suspended.

India increases its testing capacity now to perform 50,000 tests/week.

March 23, 2020: The centre asks state governments to enforce strict guidelines on lockdown in 75 districts. The government suspends all domestic airlines operation from March 24.

Prime Minister Modi interacts with industry leaders, India Inc and urges to use their CSR funds for humanitarian causes during the Chinese epidemic.

March 24, 2020: PM Modi addressed the nation and announces a nationwide lockdown for 21 days till April 14 to fight the spread of Chinese Coronavirus.

March 26, 2020: The Narendra Modi government announced a massive economic package. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman unveils a Rs 1.75 lakh-crore welfare stimulus package to the country. Her announcement came as 21-day nationwide lockdown began on Wednesday to curb the spread of highly contagious illness.

March 27, 2020: The Reserve Bank of India came up with a massive relief package. Imposed a moratorium on loan repayments. Eased norms on policy rates, capital loans. Measures were taken to inject liquidity to the tune of Rs 3.74 lakh crore to the economic system.

Whataboutery in the time of virus: This is how Rohini Singh of The Wire has impressed everyone on Twitter

OpIndia Staff
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Whataboutery in the time of virus: This is how Rohini Singh of The Wire has impressed everyone on Twitter

The Internet does not forget. Soon after the coronavirus outbreak, the corporate-hating leftist world of the self-proclaimed ‘liberals’ started questioning the rich and demanded they contribute monetarily and materially to combat the pandemic. It was almost as if the rich Indians, and not China were personally responsible for the Wuhan Coronavirus.

Amidst all this, The Wire’s Rohini Singh has earned herself a fanbase after her whataboutery peaked during the lockdown period.

After every billionaire announced donation, Singh questioned other billionaires about their contribution. The whataboutery continued as those questioned by Singh later announced their contributions. It was almost as if the billionaires were waiting to be questioned by Rohini Singh of The Wire before announcing their donations.

It all started with Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra offering various facilities to the government. Singh immediately questioned the other billionaires.

Soon, as if on cue, Vedanta Group’s Anil Agarwal also pledged Rs 100 crore. Rohini ‘what about’ Singh immediately appreciated him too while questioning the others.

Next day, Mukesh Ambani announced how Reliance was enhancing capacity to produce 1,00,000 face masks per day. Ambani’s move was also welcomed by Singh. But, she’s not yet satisfied.

When Reliance Group offered a dedicated hospital for COVID-19 in Mumbai, Singh pointedly questioned the Ruias, Birlas ‘and gang’ on what are they doing.

Seeing the pattern, in what one could think is a preemptive strike, the Tata Group came forward with the donation even before Singh could question them.

And when Adani Foundation pledged Rs 100 crore to PMCares fund, The Wire’s Rohini Singh promptly appreciated him while continuing to question the Ruias and Jindals.

Jindal’s JSW Group has committed Rs 100 crore to fight the coronavirus, but Rohini is not not impressed with the rich announcing that they are committed certain amount to fight against coronavirus.

Looks like with Rohini, you just can’t win.

However, Singh’s lockdown shenanigans have been a source of amusement for netizens who are mighty impressed. Her ‘what about’ is now a meme.

So much that people have even started predicting what Rohini’s next move would be.

OpIndia team is waiting with bated breath for the Ruias and Birlas to donate so Singh could move on and question other billionaires.

Union Home Ministry takes disciplinary action against 4 Delhi government bureaucrats for ‘dereliction of duty’ in ensuring Coronavirus lockdown

OpIndia Staff
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Union Home Ministry takes disciplinary action against 4 Delhi government bureaucrats for ‘dereliction of duty’ in ensuring Coronavirus lockdown

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has initiated action against four bureaucrats in Delhi for failing to ensure COVID-19 lockdown. Two officers, including Additional Chief Secretary (Transport) and Principal Secretary (Finance), had been suspended with immediate effect. Show-cause notices were also served to the Additional Chief Secretary (Home and Land Buildings) and SDM (Seelampur).

The MHA was quoted as saying, “It has been brought to the notice of the competent authority that the following officers, who were responsible to ensure strict compliance to the instructions issued by Chairperson, National Executive Committee, formed under Disaster Management Act 2005 regarding containment of the spread of COVID-19, have prima facie failed to do so. These officers have failed to ensure public health and safety during the lockdown restrictions to combat COVID-19.”

The punitive action came after a massive crowd of migrant workers flocked to Anand Vihar and “jeopardized the safety of crores of other citizens.”

MHA initiates action against 4 officers for failing to ensure Lockdown
Suspension order against Additional Chief Secretary (Transport Department)

To do away with the migrant workers in the national capital amidst the pandemic, the AAP government earlier allegedly spread the rumour that buses have been waiting at the UP borders to take them to their respective households. This impelled the mass exodus of these migrant labourers, now camping at the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border, in an attempt to return to their respective villages.

On Sunday, the Central Government directed the governments of all States and Union Territory administrations to seal their borders in order to restrict the movement of migrant workers during the nationwide lockdown announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the wake of Wuhan Coronavirus outbreak.

The States have also been directed to restrict the movement of people across cities and on highways. Only the movement of goods and essential supplies are to be permitted. Migrant workers who have violated lockdown guidelines and travelled to other states are to be kept under quarantine for 14 days in government facilities.

Lucknow lockdown: Crowd gathers to shout communal slogans from rooftops near Dargah, FIR against 18

OpIndia Staff
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Lucknow lockdown: Crowd gathers to shout communal slogans from rooftops near Dargah, FIR against 18

In Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, a Dargah and its nearby buildings in Saadatganj were reportedly being used for provocative sloganeering. As per a report in Live Hindustan, people from a particular community had been gathering in the rooftops near a Dargah and were raising provocative slogans against another community.

The report stated that Saadatganj police has registered an FIR against 1 named and 17 unnamed people for defying lockdown orders and trying to stir up communal tension in the area.

As per the report, ADCP West Vikas Tripathy has stated that such sloganeering could have stirred up communal tension in the area. Inspector in the Saadatganj police station has stated that for the last few days, a particular community used to gather in the rooftops and lanes near the Dargah Hazrat Abbas area and were raising communal slogans. Eventually, this led to sloganeering from another community in the area too.

Apart from the potential communal tension, such mass-sloganeering was also drawing crowds from the adjacent localities creating a potentially dangerous situation in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. Police have stated that for the last three days, they have been patrolling in the area and have been appealing to people not to engage in such mass-sloganeering. However, the members of the community were not paying heed to the police’s appeals and were continuing their activities.

Seeing the seriousness of the situation, of a potential communally charged situation amidst the virus outbreak in the city, the police have taken strong steps and have filed an FIR against one Raza Abbas of the Dargah Hazrat Abbas and 17 other persons.

police officials have stated that strict measures will be taken against those who will try to disrupt peace and defy lockdown orders.

After ‘healing’ Coronavirus through television, Christian scamvangelist ‘demands’ God to ‘destroy’ it, declares pandemic ‘finished’. Watch video

OpIndia Staff
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After ‘healing’ Coronavirus through television, Christian scamvangelist ‘demands’ God to ‘destroy’ it, declares pandemic ‘finished’. Watch video

American ‘scamvangelist’ Kenneth Copeland has declared that the Wuhan coronavirus pandemic has been ‘finished’ by God.

Addressing a crowd, Copeland, in the name of Jesus “executes a judgement” on COVID-19. “I execute judgement on you Satan, you destroyer, you killer, you get out. You get off this nation. I demand judgement on you,” Copeland demands.

He further demands a vaccination ‘immediately’. “I call you dark. I call you doggone. You come down and crawl on your belly like God commanded you when he put his foot on your head in the Garden of Eden. IT. IS. FINISHED. IT. IS. OVER. And the United State of America is healed and well again,” Copeland says.

Copeland’s associate on stage claims that the spirit life of COVID-19 has dried out. “It is dead, it is done. It has ceased to exist” he says while Copeland agrees. “It is beginning to shrivel. It is beginning to draw up and shrivel,” Copeland’s associate says. At this, Copeland looks at his watch and announces that exactly at 12 noon on 29th March COVID-19 is destroyed.

“Praise the Lord, Praise God, thank you Jesus,” they shout in unison at having ‘destroyed’ coronavirus.

As per Worldometer, the US has reported 131 new cases between 29th to 30th March 2020.

This is not the first time Copeland has made bizarre claims. Earlier this month, he had claimed to have ‘cured’ coronavirus through television. Copeland was seen asking his viewers to touch the television screen in order to receive the divine treatment.

US-based media reports suggest that Copeland is a scamster who is into ‘magical healing’. He has been accused of lying of sending funds to Haiti after the 2006 earthquake and as anti-vaccine. He has also been spreading misinformation about coronavirus.

Shekhar Gupta’s ThePrint claims govt may extend lockdown, Prasar Bharati terms it fake news

OpIndia Staff
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Shekhar Gupta’s ThePrint claims govt may extend lockdown, Prasar Bharati terms it fake news

On Monday morning, Shekhar Gupta’s ThePrint published an article claiming that an unnamed government official has said that the 3 week lockdown announced from 24th March 2020 may be extended by a week. In fact, ThePrint claims that three unnamed government officials claimed that the migrants leaving their place of work and moving back homes en masse ‘is leading to a rethink regarding the duration’.

However, Prasar Bharati, India’s public broadcaster refuted the claims and clarified that the government has no such plans in motion as of now.

Prasar Bharati said that they got in touch with the cabinet secretary who expressed surprise at such claims. According to Prasar Bharati, there is no such plan of extending the lockdown.

Read: Shekhar Gupta’s The Print publishes article denigrating India’s efforts to curb Coronavirus pandemic: Here’s why it’s completely off the mark

On March 24, Prime Minister Modi addressed the nation and announced a 21-day lockdown to contain the spread of Chinese coronavirus. Prime Minister Modi assured citizens that the government will ensure that emergency services and ration will be stocked up and that the people will not face problems. He appealed to everyone to stay at home and avoid stepping out of the house unnecessarily.

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