Narendra Modi Lockdown 4 address to the nation HIGHLIGHTS: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that there will be lockdown 4 beyond May 17 but the fourth phase would be different from the past three. Addressing the nation for the fifth time since the coronavirus outbreak, he said that it will be different and will have new rules. “You will be informed about it before May 18,” PM Modi said. The Prime Minister also said scientists believe the coronavirus will be a part of our lives for a very long time, “but we can’t let our lives remain confined around corona”. “We will wear masks and maintain social distancing but we will not let it affect us. So lockdown 4 will be in a new form with new rules,” he said. PM Modi also underlined the country’s effort to limit the spread of the virus, saying “India has given a ray of hope to the world”. Talking about self-dependent, he said, “When India speaks of self-reliance, it does not advocate for a self-centered system. In India’s self-reliance there is a concern for the whole world’s happiness, cooperation & peace.” PM Modi also announced a special economic package worth Rs 20 lakh crore to keep the health of the country’s economy healthy.
Check PM Narendra Modi’s address to the nation: Highlights
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Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel: Financial package should have been announced earlier. It is not clear what is in the package for laborers, farmers, traders, and MSMEs. Tomorrow Finance Minister will clarify it then only it will be clear which sector is getting what.
To strengthen local markets, PM Modi said that local suppliers have met ‘our demands’ and now Indians will have to be ‘vocal about local’ and buy products from them. “The pandemic has taught us the importance of local supply chains very well. The global brands we see today were once local, they grew after their countrymen supported them. From today, all Indians should become vocal for our local products,” he said.
PM Modi said that scientists say that corona will be a part of our lives for a very long time. “But we can’t let our lives remain confined around Corona. We will wear masks and maintain social distancing but we will not let it affect us. So lockdown 4 will be in a new form with new rules,” he said.
On lockdown extension, Prime Minister Narendra Modi he said that the restrictions will continue beyond May 17 and lockdown 4.0 will be different and have new rules. “You will be informed about it before May 18,” he said.
Listing five pillars for a self-reliant India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the first is economy that is incremental change and not quantum jump. The second is infrastructure. The third is tech-driven System. The fourth pillar is our vibrant democracy. The fifth pillar is our economic demand. “The supply demand chain myst be utilised to the fullest,” he said.
PM Narendra Modi has announce a special economic package. “This will play an important role in the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan’. The announcements made by the government over COVID, decisions of RBI & today’s package totals to Rs 20 Lakh Crores. This is 10% of India’s GDP,” he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a world that is fighting life and death, India’s medicines today bring a new hope. “With these steps, when India is being praised everywhere in the world, every Indian feels proud,” he said.
PM Modi said that India has given a ray of hope to the world. Talking about self-dependent, he said, “When India speaks of self-reliance, it does not advocate for a self-centered system. In India’s self-reliance there is a concern for the whole world’s happiness, cooperation & peace.”
Prime Minister Modi lauded the country’s effort in dealing with the pandemic. He said the country has turned the tragedy into an opportunity. “Before the outbreak, we didn’t have PPE or enough N95 masks, now we have at least 2 lakh of protective equipments,” he said.
PM Modi said that one virus has destroyed the world, infecting more than 42 lakh people. But “we will not give up or accept defeat,” he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is currently addressing the nation, five days before the end of the coronavirus-induced lockdown. This is his fifth address to the nation since the coronavirus outbreak.
In his March 19 address to the nation, PM Modi had announced a jantaa curfew on March 22. On March 24, he announced a 21-day nationwide lockdown. The next time he addressed the nation was on April 1. He announced to extend the lockdown by 19 days till May 3. On April 3, in a video message, PM Modi asked the nation to light lamps for frontline corona warriors on April 5. The lockdown, according to a notification issued by the Home Ministry, was further extended till May 17.
The lockdown, touted as the world’s biggest, was enforced on March 25. The government suspended rail, road and air traffic to prevent mass movement. The government asked people not to go out. Barring emergency services, all non-essential activities were halted.
This will be PM Modi’s fifth address to the nation since the lockdown was announced on March 25 to limit the spread of deadly coronavirus. The virus has killed over 2,200 people in the country.
In his address to the nation today, PM Modi is likely to speak on the migrants crisis. Migrant workers are desperate to reach home after suspension economic activity since March 25.
During a meeting with Chief Ministers on Monday, PM Modi asked states to share by May 15 a broad strategy on how they would want to deal with the lockdown regime.
At the virtual meet on Monday, many states said they are in favour of resuming economic activity outside containment zones. The lockdown will end on May 17.
Just ahead of the PM’s address, Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee fired a salvo at Modi. She said, “There are expectations during meetings with PM however we return with an empty basket every time. There is no income since last 2 months but we are not getting any alternative from centre. We are supposed to get Rs 52000 Cr. Corona is here to stay but what about the income.”
According to multiple media reports, the lockdown to contain the spread of coronavirus is likely to be extended beyond May 17. However, the government is likely to announce relaxations in areas that are not severely affected. Restrictions like night curfew and public transport will probably continue in areas designated as red zones.
Neta App said that its survey has found an upswing in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s approval ratings since the beginning of the Covid crisis in the country. The app has recorded a significant spike of 8% in Modi’s approval rating since February indicating people’s approval of his performance during the pandemic. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE
At the video conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar urged to authorise states to take decisions at their own level to resume industrial and economic activities in green, orange, and red zones except containment zones.
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has again pitched for extension of the lockdown considering the rising number of Covid-19 cases in the state. He told the PM on Monday to extend the restrictions.
PM Modi first addressed the nation to apprise the countrymen over preparedness. On March 22, he proposed a janata curfew for a day. On March 24, PM Modi had announced the 21-day nationwide lockdown to check the spread of the virus. On April 3, PM Modi had urged people to switch off the lights at their homes and light lamps, candles or mobile phone torches for nine minutes at 9 pm on April 5 to display the country’s collective resolve to defeat the coronavirus. PM Modi then addressed the nation on April 14 to extend the lockdown till May 3. The lockdown was further extended to May 17.
According to a PTI report, sources in the government indicated that the Prime Minister is likely to speak on issues related to the lockdown and the economy.
Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa has proposed to PM Narendra Modi to do away with district wise colour-coding and instead advocated strict cordoning of containment zones to control the spread of pandemic.
On extension of lockdown, Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani said that the state government will follow whatever the Centre instructs to do. The third phase of lockdown comes to end on May 17.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has favoured lifting lockdown in non COVID-19 containment zones to resume economic activity. Kejriwal told PM Modi during a virtual meet that relaxations could be provided in areas that are are classified as containment zones.
Several states, including Punjab and Assam, have asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for an extension of the lockdown. Others, like Tamil Nadu and Telangana, asked that rail and air traffic not be started yet.
On Monday, PM Narendra Modi said that resumption of train services is needed to revive the economic activity, but all the routes will not be resumed. Only a limited number of trains would ply.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday hinted at a gradual lockdown withdrawal and said social distancing is the biggest weapon in the COVID-19 fight.
During a video conference which lasted for nearly six hours on Monday evening, PM Modi told Chief Ministers that the country will have to devise a balanced strategy to revive the economy and deal with coronavirus. He said a sharp focus should be on ensuring that rural areas remain free from the deadly virus. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE
Since its emergence in China last December, the deadly virus has infected more than 41 lakh people worldwide and over 2.8 lakh have lost their lives. More than 14 lakh people have recovered so far.
Maharashtra reported 1,230 new cases on Monday, taking the state tally to 23,401, while its death toll rose to 868 after 36 more fatalities.
The first phase of the nationwide lockdown began on March 25, which was supposed to be of 21 days but got extended later till May 3 and then further till May 17 for the third phase with some relaxations, mainly for industrial and agricultural activities.
The lockdown left lakhs of people stranded in different cities due to the suspension of public transport. The virus has infected 70,756 people and killed 2,293.
The 54-day nationwide lockdown since March 25 to contain the spread of coronavirus is scheduled to end on May 17. The novel coronavirus outbreak has adversely affected economic activities.
The Prime Minister’s address comes a day after he held a meeting with Chief Ministers of al states and Union Territories to discuss the startegy for easing relaxations after the third lockdown ends May 17.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation at 8 pm on Tuesday, the Prime Minister’s Office said. The last time he had addressed the nation was on April 14.