Modi ‘pained’ by harassment of doctors

They are ‘a form of god’ and such acts will prove costly to the offenders, says Prime Minister

26/03/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT ,LUCKNOW

Facing the people: Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacting with citizens of Varanasi on Wednesday.PTIPTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said he had instructed the police chiefs of different States to take strict action against those who ill-treat or don’t co-operate with doctors, nurses and other professionals who are providing vital services in the fight against COVID-19.

Mr. Modi was responding to a question by a Varanasi resident during a videoconference with people of his Lok Sabha constituency.

When asked about the incidents of discrimination and harassment faced by the staff members of airlines who helped to rescue COVID-19 patients and doctors and nurses tending to such people, the Prime Minister said he was pained by such reports.

Such acts would “prove costly” to the offenders, he warned.

Mr. Modi said that if people noticed such incidents of ill-treatment of doctors, nurses or ‘safai karamcharis’, they should point it out and warn the offenders. Nurses and doctors working in white uniform against COVID-19 “are a form of god,” he said.

To another question on reports of people resorting to self-diagnosis, Mr. Modi warned the public not to try to get COVID-19 treated on their own. “Stay at home and act as per doctor’s advice,” he stressed. “First, consult your doctor,” he said.

If the Mahabharata war was won in 18 days, the battle against coronavirus that the whole country is fighting would take 21 days, the Prime Minister said. “Our attempt is to win it in 21 days,” he said. His constituency, Varanasi, could teach the country patience, coordination and sensitivity, support, peace and tolerance during the lockdown.

Mr. Modi also asked people, especially those capable, to take care of nine poor families for 21 days as part of Navratri, as well as the animals, that could not fend for themselves due to the shutdown of services and transport. This was his reply to a question on the crisis faced by migrant labourers and the poor who were stranded in various cities without any means of support.

“This will be a true Navratri,” he said, asking the people to adopt ‘karuna’ (compassion) as another step to defeat corona [virus].

The Prime Minister also refuted ideas that people in India were adept at battling COVID-19 owing to factors such as the hot and humid weather and lifestyle. “The biggest truth coming out of this illness is that it doesn’t discriminate against anyone and ruins both the rich and the poor,” he said.

He asked the people not to rely on misinformation and continue to maintain physical distancing.