New Delhi: Only time will tell how effective Prime Minister Modi’s speech will prove to be in this coronavirus crisis but it was good enough to find favour with some of his most vocal opponents, such as Congress MP Shashi Tharoor.
I welcome @PMOIndia @narendramodi ‘s call to solidarity at this challenging time. Will support #JanataCurfew while conscious that Sunday is the easiest day to try it. Need more reinforcement of social distancing (incl suspending Parliament) & specific economic relief measures
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) March 19, 2020
And this is perhaps the kindest P. Chidambaram, Congress, has been to PM Modi, for sure.
I have offered our support to the PM’s announcements yesterday, but I am absolutely certain that the PM will have no option but to come back with tougher social and economic measures.
— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) March 20, 2020
Here’s one for the history books: activist Shehla Rashid, who never sees eye to eye with the BJP, actually agrees with PM Modi…
Appreciate PM @narendramodi's clear message to people to stay indoors, encouraging work from home. Also endorse his appeal to all employers to give paid leave to staff. He's asked people to not panic-buy & hoard. Appeal to everyone to be united and follow the govt's instructions.
— Shehla Rashid (@Shehla_Rashid) March 19, 2020
Still, never fear, some critics are still here: namely, Congress members Sanjay Jha, Saral Patel and Shama Mohamed whose questions do deserve replies but maybe not from the PM when he makes an address to the nation?
Sorry Sir, but with due respects, how does a #JantaCurfew for 12-14 hours on 1 day change anything???
Please provide economic relief immediately to our daily wage earners who are being devastated. And provide a fiscal stimulus to bleeding sectors.
— Sanjay Jha (@JhaSanjay) March 19, 2020
.@narendramodi ji, this one day picnic like one-day lockdown would've been more effective if you had acted on 12th February itself when @RahulGandhi Ji raised the issue about the seriousness of your government to fight against #COVID2019India. #StopBhashanShowAction https://t.co/WYPodMkTId
— ????? ????? (@SaralPatel) March 19, 2020
My husband asking me “ shama, why is there Janata curfew for one day & not a lockdown for a week or two”. I told home that once the M.P floor test is over tomorrow, he will adjourn parliament & a lockdown will be announced !
— Shama Mohamed (@drshamamohd) March 19, 2020
There is simply no pleasing some people: political analyst Tehseen Poonawalla calls the ‘Janata curfew’ a PR stunt.
He used the #CoronavirusOutbreakindia to do a PR stunt . He made it about himself and a great headline in the ridiculous #JantaCurfew . Nothing scientific . This is nonsense #coronavirus #COVID
— Tehseen Poonawalla Official (@tehseenp) March 19, 2020
Kerala’s finance minister Thomas Isaac is more impressed by the actions of his chief minister.
What a contrast between PM’s speech and today’s daily briefing of Kerala CM. Kerala announces income transfer of ₹2400 to 55 lakh persons, 1000 food stalls for ₹20 a meal ( and for needy free too), ₹2000cr MGNREGS in the next 2 months, ₹2000cr loan through NHGs and so on.
— Thomas Isaac (@drthomasisaac) March 19, 2020
And, Swaraj Abhiyan President Yogendra Yadav is more concerned with the perfect “protest” model.
This is a good model https://t.co/4ve2rm1XCf
— Yogendra Yadav (@_YogendraYadav) March 19, 2020
Bollywood celebrities also pledge to follow ‘Janata Curfew’ on 22 March. Check out some stars.
Actor Akshay Kumar is all praise.
An excellent initiative by PM @narendramodi ji…this Sunday, March 22 from 7 am to 9 pm let’s all join in the #JantaCurfew and show the world we are together in this. #SocialDistancing
— Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) March 19, 2020
His wife, author and actor Twinkle Khanna, who is often tough on the Modi government, pitched in her support as well. Is this the ‘Kumar’ effect?
Have written against many govt moves but this was a speech by the PM that https://t.co/hEYggGXtzE staves of panic without undermining the gravity of the situation.Applauding those providing essential services will also make us feel more united during this pandemic. #jantacurfew https://t.co/I5maq4kDBk
— Twinkle Khanna (@mrsfunnybones) March 19, 2020
Amitabh Bachchan ‘wholeheartedly’ supported the initiative. As did Ayushmann Khurrana…
T 3476 –
मैं #JanataCurfew का समर्थन करता हूँ ,२२ मार्च , ७ से ९ बजे रात तक ,, मैं उन सबको हृदय से धन्यवाद देता हूँ , उनका अभिनंदन करता हूँ , उनकी सराहना करता हूँ , जो , देश वासियों के लिए जितने भी आवश्यक काम हैं उन्हें इन गम्भीर परोस्थितियों में भी , कार्यरत है संलग्न हैं ?❤️— Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) March 20, 2020
Please adhere by the precautionary guidelines ? #WarAgainstVirus
For more info please follow:@CMOMaharashtra @mybmc @SrBachchan #RohitShetty @RSPicturez @AnilKapoor @MadhuriDixit @RanveerOfficial @TheShilpaShetty @Varun_dvn @arjunk26 @aliaa08 @ajaydevgn @akshaykumar https://t.co/WSw0iYTPLi
— Ayushmann Khurrana (@ayushmannk) March 20, 2020
The Janata curfew also won support from some unusual suspects — actor Shabana Azmi and director Mahesh Bhatt.
@narendramodi its a very good speech on Corona Virus and his appeal for #JantaCurfew on Sunday 22nd March stay home from 7am is something all Indians should do. I applaud him for inspiring us to stand at 5 pm on Sun 22nd March to honour people who believe in service about self.
— Azmi Shabana (@AzmiShabana) March 19, 2020
Janta Curfew: Social distancing. Staying apart to put things together . #Jantacurfew pic.twitter.com/qwfvH2to44
— Mahesh Bhatt (@MaheshNBhatt) March 19, 2020
Cricketers, too, fell in line to observe ‘curfew’ this Sunday. India’s cricket coach Ravi Shastri and former cricketer Mohammad Kaif lead the charge.
An important message from PM @narendramodi ji to the nation to fight against #CoronaVirus.
– #JantaCurfew to prepare us for upcoming challenges
– Avoid panic while buying essential suppliesIt’s time we take responsibility for the well-being of our loved ones and fellow Indians
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) March 19, 2020
Let’s join hands with our PM @narendramodi and observe #JantaCurfew on March 22 from 7 am to 9 pm IST. We need to exhibit utmost restraint as a nation #IndiaFightsCorona @PMOIndia pic.twitter.com/81ZhyOFZng
— Ravi Shastri (@RaviShastriOfc) March 19, 2020
Amidst the roar of congratulations for Modi’s speech, a sobering reminder for the Prime Minister from a doctor.
As a doctor my self and as wife of a doctor who is working with Corona Virus patients, let me assure you that we don’t want people clapping for us, what we really need is more testing kits, better quarantine facilities, hazmat suits, more awareness and I mean correct awareness
— afreen usman آفرئن عثمان (@afreenusman1) March 19, 2020
And lastly, on an entirely unrelated note, BJP Mahila Morcha social media in-charge Priti Gandhi is delighted that comedian Kunal Kamra got his comeuppance from the Supreme Court, for heckling Republic TV anchor Arnab Goswami on a flight.
Delhi High Court refuses to entertain stand-up comedian @kunalkamra88's petition challenging the flying ban imposed on him by IndiGo, Vistara & other airlines observing that "his behaviour of heckling in-flight cannot be allowed."
The comedian becomes a laughing stock!!??
— Priti Gandhi – प्रीति गांधी (@MrsGandhi) March 20, 2020
With inputs from Shubhangi Mishra