Hyderabad: MP and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi believes lockdown is a “a concept of the West”, which India is not equipped to deal with.
In an exclusive interview to ThePrint, Owaisi said the Narendra Modi government’s decision to enforce a nationwide lockdown, to curb the spread of Covid-19, was unplanned and unconstitutional.
“The worst is yet to come and the Centre will only realise once economic activity resumes in the real sense, that there is nothing left, especially for the poor,” said Owaisi, a four-time MP from Hyderabad.
If India wanted to follow a Western concept, he added, it should have adopted other measures such as ensuring “60-70 per cent salaries” for the employed who cannot work, like in the UK, or ensured furlough like employers in the US.
He said the lockdown has only resulted in hardships and death for migrants and lack of freedom to the states.
“How can someone sitting in Delhi decide what is right for Telangana and what isn’t, or what should be the norm in Hyderabad?” Owaisi asked, adding that it was mere eyewash that states had more freedom in lockdown 4.0.
“The Government of India sitting in Delhi cannot issue a farman (decree) that states should be closed. Law and order is a state subject,” he added. “Legally, the lockdown is unconstitutional. It was unplanned and it was forced by the Prime Minister in a hasty manner.”
Referring to the over 140 migrant deaths, Owaisi said, “When all this is over, which is long away, they (the government) will see that there is nothing but destruction.”
He fears that there will be “another 8 pm announcement” by the Prime Minister. “The PM hasn’t given any direction to this country except for taali and thali bajao,” he said.
‘There will be spurt in cases when lockdown ends’
Sitting at his residence in Hyderabad, Owaisi said this was the first time in his life that he spent the auspicious festival of Eid indoors.
“Religious gatherings are banned and we have perhaps never seen such a silent Eid celebration in Hyderabad ever before this. But then we have to abide by the guidelines so one cannot complain beyond a point,” he said.
The MP agreed there will be a spurt in cases once the lockdowm is lifted and economic activities resume but believes the country has little choices.
“It (economic activity) is important or else how will people survive? The government hasn’t been able to manage so people are forced to come out and take this risk,” he said. “As someone said yah toh Covid mar dega ya bhook se (If Covid doesn’t kill us, hunger will).”
When asked about why his state was not testing enough, Owaisi said, “The CM (K. Chandrashekar Rao) and his son have been repeatedly saying that they will do testing according to the state’s requirement.”
He added, “There is an argument, which is a fair comment, that more testing should be done but however the contract tracing in Hyderabad is perhaps the best.”
Owaisi’s AIMIM is an ally of the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS).
On the large number of cases in Hyderabad being attributed to Tablighi Jamaat members, Owaisi said the members of the community strictly adhered to guidelines.
“We got more than 600 names from the community and within 24 hours made sure they were quarantined and tested,” he said. “They have now been discharged and are back home, but it is unfair to blame them. It shows bias and a parochial attitude in blaming a religion for the spread of a virus. If that is the case, what is the religion being followed in Wuhan or in Spain or in Italy?”
Also read: Retired Army man, grandmas, students — everyone on the special trains has a lockdown story
He didn’t oppose either govt nor modi he speaks the facts lockdowm without planning will going to impact on so many things, Modi dont have any policy, strategy every one knows that, dia jalavo, thali bajavo, light jalavo what is this,, May god bless india with covid 19, and Andh bhakts pls accept the facts
I don’t know what Mr Jahar Singh is cribbing about! Nobody is saying that lockdown was wrong,it has been implemented wrongly,just like demonetisation and GST .Was the emergency so grave.What was so secret about it that we were given 4 hrs notice before putting the country in great danger!The disease was known way back in January and suddenly in March an emergency is declared!Does the government think that others, parliament, opposition should also have been consulted,or are they of no consequence? Funny government attitude!No brain storming,no discussion and the country is shut down, just like that! it’s like throwing one in water and give him the option to swim or sink,if he doesn’t know swimming!So the government is now asking the states to swim and blaming them if they can’t.What has been done is nothing short of suicide, redolent of the Kalidas tale, when he is cutting the branch on which he himself was sitting!They have set India back by many years in addition to causing untold misery to millions!job losses to millions,and so many people died of hunger, does it mean anything to the current dispensation.At the same time time they are looking for accolades for their achievements!This is a really poor show,and there are people who are egging on the government that they’ve done the right thing coz they could sit in the comfort of their own drawing rooms and discuss statistics of the success or otherwise of the action!They are unable to relate to the man on the street!The government has, truly speaking,jeopardized the lives of 130 crores people!I hope they know what they’ve done! They may be taking it lightly! Jesus Christ is reported to have pleaded with God,on behalf of his killers,when he was being crucified “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do”.Is our thought process so warped?
Yes ur right sir
Sir do you know anybody personally who has died of hunger. Pls do a favour there are many agencies which are offering free food, instead of blaming govt , as you are educated pls help those people to get food.
A good leader
I do not expect any viable solution from one brainwashed by 7th century teachings. Take a ride to the moon.
I don’t know what to say about this kind of people. When good things are done they will only oppose. Say lets suppose lockdown was not given by the govt. then in that case they will say reverse of what they’re saying today. Then they’l support the lock down and criticise the govt. for not giving lockdown. All these people are full of shit.