New Delhi: A “warrior”, a leader whose “heart beats with the nation”, a “Mahamanav (superhuman)” and someone who has held the country together — this is how Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ministers and leaders are showering praises on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for handling the second Covid-19 wave.
This comes at a time when the Modi government is facing flak for becoming complacent during the let-up in the pandemic after the first wave. The period, say opposition leaders, should have been used to ensure adequate vaccine production and ramp up health infrastructure.
However, in the last couple of days, a number of BJP ministers took to Twitter and described how efforts were being made by the Modi government to provide relief to the people amid the pandemic.
The move came after PM Modi addressed the nation on 20 April as India battles a devastating second wave of Covid-19. The number of daily Covid cases in India hit a record high with over 3.14 lakh new infections being reported Thursday, pushing the total tally of cases to 1,59,30,965, according to the Union health ministry data.
Also read: Modi owns India’s unfolding Covid disaster
What the ministers said
In a series of tweets after the address, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan described the PM in glowing terms, calling him a “warrior”.
“A leader whose heart beats with the nation & for it. Loss of even a single life is the nation’s loss! These are unprecedented times & Hon’ble PM Sh @narendramodi Ji rightfully calls for prudence & perseverance to tide over this wave of #COVID19 using science-backed strategies,” he posted on Twitter.
A leader whose heart beats with the nation & for it. Loss of even a single life is the nation's loss!
These are unprecedented times & Hon'ble PM Sh @narendramodi Ji rightfully calls for prudence & perseverance to tide over this wave of #COVID19 using science-backed strategies. pic.twitter.com/vPOuKSnNQQ
— Dr Harsh Vardhan (@drharshvardhan) April 20, 2021
“While interacting with the doctors of #AIIMS across the country, I said that PM Mr. @narendramodi ji himself is working like a corona warrior. He is constantly engaged and working like a warrior in the battle against Corona. @PMOIndia # Unite2FightCorona,” he added.
देश भर के #AIIMS के डॉक्टरों से संवाद करते हुए मैंने कहा कि PM श्री @narendramodi जी स्वयं एक कोरोना योद्धा की तरह काम कर रहे हैं। कोरोना के खिलाफ़ ज़ंग में वह योद्धा की तरह लगातार लगे हुए हैं और बैठकें कर रहे हैं। @PMOIndia #Unite2FightCorona pic.twitter.com/k79npbtmqX
— Dr Harsh Vardhan (@drharshvardhan) April 20, 2021
The health minister didn’t stop there. While elaborating on the “largest” vaccination drive, Vardhan said: “#LargestVaccineDrive Another milestone in the fight against # COVID19! With the skilled leadership of PM Shri @narendramodi ji, the number of beneficiaries in the ongoing vaccination campaign in the country to reach beyond 13 crores is a major achievement for the country. Be afraid of corona, not the vaccine!”
#LargestVaccineDrive #COVID19 के खिलाफ़ लड़ाई में एक और मील का पत्थर!
PM श्री @narendramodi जी के कुशल नेतृत्व में देश में ज़ारी टीकाकरण अभियान में लाभार्थियों की संख्या 13 करोड़ के पार पहुंच जाना, देश के लिए एक बड़ी उपलब्धि है।
कोरोना से डरें, टीके से नहीं !@PMOIndia pic.twitter.com/dxjzG2M40M
— Dr Harsh Vardhan (@drharshvardhan) April 21, 2021
“The country has fought against Corona with great force and patience so far. The credit goes to all the countrymen. Of course PM @narendramodi ji has given all the credit to the countrymen, but it is also true that Modi ji’s guidance is behind this power of public participation. @PMOIndia,” he added.
देश ने कोरोना के खिलाफ अब तक बहुत मजबूती और धैर्य से लड़ाई लड़ी है। इसका श्रेय सभी देशवासियों को ही जाता है।
बेशक PM श्री @narendramodi जी ने सारा श्रेय देशवासियों को दिया हो, लेकिन यह भी सच है कि जन भागीदारी की इस ताक़त के पीछे मोदी जी का मार्गदर्शन भी है।@PMOIndia pic.twitter.com/WU9nG3s1rx
— Dr Harsh Vardhan (@drharshvardhan) April 20, 2021
हमारे शास्त्रों में कहा गया है- त्याज्यं न धैर्यं विधुरेऽपि काले
अर्थात- कठिन से कठिन समय में भी हमें धैर्य नहीं खोना चाहिए।
PM श्री @narendramodi जी जो कहते हैं, उस पर अमल भी करते हैं। आज उनके इसी मंत्र को लेकर देश दिन-रात काम कर रहा है।@PMOIndia #Unite2FightCorona pic.twitter.com/rBfEKhdvRQ
— Dr Harsh Vardhan (@drharshvardhan) April 20, 2021
Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad also highlighted how PM Modi has “held the country together”.
“During difficult times messages of PM @narendramodi have held the country together & motivated every citizen to fight the challenge. Today once again PM has called for maintaining COVID19 protocols & assured the country that all possible resources in this fight will be provided,” he tweeted after the speech.
During difficult times messages of PM @narendramodi have held the country together & motivated every citizen to fight the challenge.
Today once again PM has called for maintaining COVID19 protocols & assured the country that all possible resources in this fight will be provided— Ravi Shankar Prasad (@rsprasad) April 20, 2021
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar pointed out how PM Modi “raised national morale and motivated India”.
“Powerful call by PM @narendramodi on social discipline. As always, raised national morale and motivated India. Also characteristically gave practical suggestions to the youth. Follow protocols, stay safe. India will come through,” he said.
Powerful call by PM @narendramodi on social discipline. As always, raised national morale and motivated India. Also characteristically gave practical suggestions to the youth.
Follow protocols, stay safe.
India will come through.— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) April 20, 2021
Also read: Modi govt had a year to prepare for 2nd Covid wave. Now, patients don’t have oxygen to breathe
More glowing praise
But it wasn’t just the central ministers. A number of BJP leaders also sought to highlight how the Modi government has been working continuously to deal with the pandemic.
Party president J.P. Nadda said: “From meeting oxygen requirements to increasing medicines production, PM Modi ji’s govt is doing everything to deal with COVID. It is the result of our collective endurance that today we are better placed to fight this pandemic.”
From meeting oxygen requirements to increasing medicines production, PM Modi ji's govt is doing everything to deal with COVID. It is the result of our collective endurance that today we are better placed to fight this pandemic.
— Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) April 20, 2021
He added: “Hon PM @narendramodi ji addressed the nation on the COVID 19 situation. From creating basic infrastructure for COVID to launching world’s largest vaccination program, PM Modi ji’s Govt has directed all its energy in saving lives & protecting the economy.”
Hon PM @narendramodi ji addressed the nation on the COVID 19 situation. From creating basic infrastructure for COVID to launching world’s largest vaccination program, PM Modi ji’s govt has directed all its energy in saving lives & protecting the economy.
— Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) April 20, 2021
But former minister and BJP MP Vijay Goel went a step ahead and termed PM Modi as a “mahamanav”, who dedicates his time round the clock to the welfare of the country.
सीने में जलन आंखों में तूफान सा क्यों है। 24 घंटे देश के कल्याण में लगा ये महामानव। pic.twitter.com/MyRfyh1wbv
— Vijay Goel (@VijayGoelBJP) April 21, 2021
Also read: Modi govt’s mistakes are to blame for India’s latest Covid crisis