Future Course

More relaxations in offing: Javadekar Says 

Modi is not in two minds about the way forward and knows what is needed to be done and when

An elderly woman walks on the deserted Howrah bridge in Kolkata on Sunday. — Photo: ANI

PTI

New Delhi  20.04.2020

A day before a host of relaxations to boost economic activities kick in amid the nationwide lockdown, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said on Sunday that more relief measures are bound to come if India continues to manage the coronavirus crisis well, asserting that “you cannot (have) lockdown permanently”.

The Information and Broadcasting Minister also called for fully observing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s request to people to stay wherever they are amid a row over the UP government’s decision to send buses to Kota in Rajasthan to bring back students stuck there.

“I will not go into any particular incident but let me make it clear that the Prime Minister has spoken about people facing hardship when they are away from home. He has advised them to stay wherever they are. That is the real point,” he said when asked about the incident. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has objected to the development, saying it was against the spirit of lockdown, and some opposition leaders have questioned as to why then the Central government is not making provisions for stranded migrants to return to their homes. “Our policy is stay wherever you are and help each other,” Javadekar said, adding that Modi’s appeal in this regard should be observed 100 per cent.

A member of the group of ministers to oversee the measures to combat the pandemic, he said unlike leaders in some other countries, who are “confused” between the choices of shutdown and letting economic activities pick up, PM Modi is “not in two minds” about the way forward and knows what is needed to be done and when.

“He gave the call of lockdown at the right time and is now partially allowing economic activity while the lockdown continues. With such a (huge) population we have managed well, if this continues we will get more relief,” he said.

While the relaxations starting from April 20 are primarily aimed at boosting the rural economy, Javadekar expressed confidence that economic activities will start in cities as well “sooner than later”.

“The lockdown has been successful. The world is praising it because this is the way to fight the virus. But even after this you cannot (have) lockdown permanently. We have saved lives and at the same time we must start economic activity. To that end PM has partially opened economic activities,” he said.

To a question about Rahul Gandhi’s claim that the lockdown is not a solution, he took a dig at him, saying that the Congress leader must be “more knowledgeable” about Covid-19 than others.

“The world is praising India for timely lockdown and its good implementation. Compared to what we are witnessing in western countries, we are doing much better,” he said.