Bengaluru: The Congress has hit out against the Central government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the condition of the poor during the lockdown.
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In a tweet, former finance minister P Chidambaram said, “The poor have been left to fend for themselves for 21+19 days, including practically soliciting food. There is money, there is food, but the government will not release either money or food.”
The poor have been left to fend for themselves for 21+19 days, including practically soliciting food. There is money, there is food, but the government will not release either money or food.
Cry, my beloved country.
— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN)
But later, he confessed that the lockdown extension was a necessity.
We reciprocate the PM’s New Year greetings. We understand the compulsion for extending the lockdown. We support the decision
— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN)
A note on lockdown extension:
This morning, in a televised address to the nation, PM Modi extended the present lockdown till the 3rd of May, elongating it by a period of 19 days. He also urged the nation to follow social distancing and added that the next one week would be crucial in containing the spread.
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Why May 3 and not April 30?
Well, in simple terms, May 1 is a holiday. May 2 is a Saturday and May 3 is a Sunday. The extension has been given so that the lockdown can be followed till the weekend and if lockdown is called off on May 3, people can start afresh starting May 4, which is a Monday.
Moreover, the extension this time, will be for 19 days as against 21 days earlier. So the total number of days will be 21+19=40 days, thereby making it one long stretch for fighting the virus.
This is the logic behind the date.
But again, we must remember that Modi has taken expert opinions on extending the lockdown and would not have jumped to it without much thought process.
He has ensured that the momentum gained in the last 21 days will continue and is harnessed till the 3 weeks.
Another important aspect to note is that the PM kept on stressing that the next one week would be crucial because he fears that community transmission would take place in the next 7 days and wants to prevent it thoroughly.
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