Covid-19 second wave: BJP CMs favour lockdown disguised as curfew

This despite the prime minister suggesting such a move be the last resort to curb the spread of Covid-19

In early April, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told chief ministers in an interaction that lockdowns were a tool of last resort in handling the Covid-19 pandemic and entirely avoidable if a strategy of micro-containment was followed. He followed this up with similar advice on April 20 when he repeated his suggestion that micro-containment should be the preferred option.

But either the PM’s advisers were out of touch with the reality on the ground or it was an unworkable suggestion: Because within days of the PM’s advice, several states ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) — and the opposition — resorted to precisely this measure to curb the rates of infection in their state.

Most states have termed these curfews, but the curbs are akin to a lockdown. Gujarat was the only BJP-ruled exception that followed the PM’s lead faithfully. Although the state continues to report around 10,000 new cases every day, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has ruled out a lockdown, despite the Indian Medical Association (IMA) almost begging for one. Health Minister Nitin Patel said: “Night curfew is in place in 20 cities. Several cities, towns, villages, municipalities, organisations, and associations have decided to observe voluntary lockdown… We are discussing with experts and what they are saying is to wear masks, maintain social distancing, and wash hands. If these are followed, there is no need for a lockdown… Lockdown can be useful for breaking the chain but it will affect the employment of lakhs of people, their earnings and their businesses.”

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