MUMBAI: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing the nation on the coronavirus crisis this evening, called for a “Janata curfew” on Sunday, saying all citizens must stay home from 7 am to 9 pm to try and check the spread of the deadly virus.
“Under this Janata (public) curfew, no one should leave their home or gather in their neighbourhoods. Only those related to essential services should go out,” said the Prime Minister, adding that all citizens must abide by it.
“On that day, at 5 pm, we will stand at our balconies, windows or doors for 5 minutes, we will show our gratitude to those maintaining essential services by ringing bells, sounding sirens and clapping…,” he said.
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The Prime Minister suggested that the one-day exercise would help inculcate a new discipline for social distancing for the next few weeks.
He urged people to stay home unless absolutely essential, in the next few weeks, and act with “restraint and resolve”.
On that day, at 5 pm, we will stand at our balconies, windows or doors for 5 minutes, we will show our gratitude to those maintaining essential services by ringing bells, sounding sirens and clapping…
Narendra Modi, Indian Prime Minister
“I want the next few weeks from you, I want your time,” he said, stressing on the need to avoid what he called a sudden explosion of the outbreak, after the first few days, in other nations.
“Coronavirus has endangered humanity. It has affected more nations than the World War,” he added.
