Important to be even more vigilant now, says PM Modi in 'Mann Ki Baat'

There is no class of people who did not suffer due to this outbreak, but poor, labourers hit hardest, says PM

On a day when India registered its highest single-day spike of 8,380 coronavirus cases, Prime Minister Narendra Modi cautioned people of the country to remain even more vigilant now as major chunk of the economy has opened up. Coronavirus is very much there and we cannot be complacent, he said.

Addressing the nation in the 65th edition of his radio show "Mann ki Baat" on Sunday, the prime minister said that "India's fight against Covid-19 is people-driven and country's 'seva shakti' is visible in this battle".

However, he clearly stated that it would be a long battle against the pandemic. "Road ahead is a long one. We are fighting a pandemic about which little was previously known," he said.

"There is no class of people who did not suffer due to this outbreak, but poor, labourers hit hardest," Modi said.

Everyone is working to help them, he said, and highlighted the railways' exercise to transport huge numbers of migrant workers to their home.

The prime minister also asked people to be "extra careful" and stick to precautions like maintaining social distance and wearing masks as the economy gradually opens up.

He noted that a big part of economy has reopened, with railway and air traffic being resumed partially and set to be scaled up in the coming says. "You need to be extra careful now," he said.

Modi noted how India has fared much better than many parts of the world in fighting the pandemic and also lauded innovative spirit and the sense of service shown by people in different parts of the country.
 

He also assured farmers, saying that help will be extended to all those affected by locust attack.

On the destruction caused by Cyclone Amphan, he said, "India stands with Odisha and West Bengal, people of these states have shown remarkable courage."

On Saturday, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued new guidelines for phased re-opening of "all activities outside containment zones for the next one month beginning June 1".

PM Modi in a letter addressed to Indian citizens on Saturday has expressed “firm belief” that the country will set an “example in economic revival” for the world.

"Given the way India has surprised the world with its unity and resolve in the fight against coronavirus, there is a firm belief that we will also set an example in economic revival," he wrote.

In the letter, which marks the completion of one year of the current tenure of his government, the prime minister said sections of the population, including workers and artisans, have “undergone tremendous suffering” because of the spread of coronavirus.

In the 64th episode of 'Mann Ki Baat', the Prime Minister had focused on the situation prevailing in the country due to Covid-19 and urged people to help the poor, migrants and needy during the lockdown.

He had said that India's fight against coronavirus is "people-driven" and is being fought by the masses and the administration together.

The Prime Minister had on March 24 announced a 21-day nationwide lockdown as a precautionary measure to contain the spread of COVID-19. The lockdown was later extended, in phases, till May 31.

According to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, India witnessed the highest ever spike of 7,964 coronavirus positive cases on Saturday, taking the total count in the country to 1,73,763.

With as many as 265 deaths reported in the last 24 hours, the death toll due to the virus now stands at 4,971. Out of the total number of coronavirus cases, 86,422 are active cases and 82,370 have been cured/discharged/migrated.