PM says ‘long fight’ ahead to defeat Covid-19; asks ministers to plans for ‘slow’ exit from lockdown

New Delhi, April 6 (PTI): Cautioning people to be ready for a “long fight” against Covid-19, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday told his ministers to make plans for slowly exiting the ongoing lockdown and to contain the economic impact of the deadly virus pandemic, including by reducing dependence on other countries.

As more people tested positive in New Delhi, Mumbai and other parts of the country, the nationwide tally of infections went over 4,500 and the death toll rose to at least 129, as per figures announced by various states. The government also announced a 30 per cent cut in salaries, allowances and pensions of all MPs for one year and a two-year suspension of their local area development funds worth nearly INR 8,000 crore.

The Union Health Ministry indicated the disease is in “localised community transmission” stage with a large number of cases being found in some particular areas, amid indications that some areas including in Uttar Pradesh may not see full exit from the lockdown.

Addressing his council of ministers in a video conference, Modi asked them to prepare business continuity plans to fight the economic impact of Covid-19 on a war footing, but also asserted that this crisis is an opportunity to boost the ‘Make-in-India’ initiative and reduce dependence on other countries.

He also indicated a phased emergence from the lockdown and said that “a graded plan to slowly open departments where hotspots aren’t existing should be made.”

“This is going to be a long fight. We don’t have to tire or feel defeated. We have to win in this long battle. We have to emerge victorious. Today, the nation’s goal, mission and resolve are one, and this is to be victorious in this battle against the coronavirus pandemic,” Modi said.

In their daily briefing, government officials announced fresh figures to show that the people linked to Tablighi Jamaat account for more than one-third of the total tally and also said that elderly persons are in high risk category and so are those aged between 40-60 years with other serious medical conditions.

Separately, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s Joint General Secretary Manmohan Vaidya said “figures tell the truth”, referring to the Jamaat-linked numbers in the nationwide tally.

He said the Jamaat should have acted “sensibly and responsibly” in dispersing the participants at their congregation last month and referred to RSS’s own decision to cancel its meetings and programmes.

Experts opined that the lockdown, in its 13th day on Monday, has helped in slowing down the spread of the virus, but called for an exponential ramping up of the testing mechanism and upgrading of healthcare facilities. The Indian Council of Medical Research, which has so far conducted nearly 90,000 coronavirus tests, said orders have been placed for 5 lakh rapid antibody testing kits.

Officials have, however, maintained that the spread has still been slower in India than many other countries.

Sources said the Finance Ministry is also working on a new relief package for the Indian economy hit hard by the outbreak and the lockdown. Last month, the government had announced a INR 1.70 lakh crore relief package in the form of food grains and cash transfers for poor and vulnerable sections to help them deal with the hardships caused by the lockdown.

In his video conference with ministers, Modi also asked them to explore innovative solutions like ‘truck aggregators’ on the lines of app-based cab services to connect farmers with mandis and also underlined the need to devise a strategy to ensure procurement of tribal products.

Separately addressing the BJP workers on the party’s 40th foundation day, Modi also asked every BJP worker to donate to the PM-CARES Fund and also encourage others to contribute to it to help his government’s measures against the pandemic.