Actor Shabana Azmi on Thursday hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement to observe Janata Curfew on Sunday, March 22, amidst the coronavirus pandemic, which has rocked the world, claiming 9,377 lives and infecting 228,708 people globally.
A Twitter user called Modi's move of appreciating the people who are working to help fight coronavirus as 'nonsense'. He wrote, "At 5 PM on Sunday, everyone needs to come out and thank the people who are working for us by clapping, or banging a plate. Siren will also be there. Kya nonsense hai."
Quoting the user, the actor said that the move isn't nonsense, but a masterstroke. She wrote, "Its not nonsense . Its a master stroke to unite all Indians to feel we are in this together."
PM Modi addressed the nation on Thursday evening and spoke about precautions to take amidst the coronavirus pandemic. "On Sunday, March 22, from 7 am to 9 pm, no one will leave their houses and observe Janata curfew," said Modi. Modi added that at 5 pm on Sunday, we should stand on our doorways, balconies, in our windows and keep clapping hands and ringing the bells for 5 mins to salute and encourage them.
Modi also urged the high-income groups, that if possible, take care of the economic interests of the people from whom you take services. In such a situation, do not cut their salary, decide with sensitivity, with full humanism. Always remember, they too have to run their own family, save their family from disease, said PM Modi.
Modi added that they have made sure that there will be no stop of supply of essential items. "Please don't hoard anything", he said.
The Prime Minister also clearly stated that the people above the age of 65 shouldn't leave their houses amidst the pandemic.
Meanwhile, the total number of positive cases of COVID-19 in India stands at 167 (including 25 foreigners), 4 deaths (1 each) in Delhi, Karnataka, Punjab and Maharashtra, said the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
