Coronavirus outbreak: Modi was testing waters with janata curfew, expect tougher social, economic measures soon, says P Chidambaram

New Delhi: Congress MP and former finance minister P Chidambaram said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would have ’no option but to again address the nation and announce tougher social and economic measures’ to contain the spread of COVID-19.

While supporting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s initiative to observe a ‘Janata curfew’, Chidambaram told reporters, “I think the Prime Minister was testing the waters. He would be compelled to come back in a few days to announce tougher social and economic measures which I also tweeted on Thursday.”

“I have the feeling that the PM will come back in the next few days to announce tougher social and economic measures,” he tweeted. “I am duty-bound to support the PM. In effect, the PM has asked the people to wage the war against COVID with moral armaments. We shall do so on Sunday and in the following days, he said.

With regard to the industries struggling due to the coronavirus pandemic, he said: “I think the government is yet underprepared. I think they have no option but to come back with announcements in the next three-four days.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to citizens to follow ‘Janata curfew’ on 22 March to contain the spread of COVID-19 and said, “I am seeking one more support from every countrymen today. This is a public curfew. Janata curfew means for the public, curfew imposed by the public on its own. Every citizen must follow Janata curfew on this Sunday, 22 March, from 7 am to 9 pm.”

The total number of Covid-19 cases in India has now climbed up to 195, the Union Health Ministry said on Friday morning.

As many as 19 people have been cured of the lethal infection which has claimed over 10,000 lives globally.

Maharashtra remains the worst-hit state from coronavirus with 49 people confirmed positive for COVID-19 including three foreign nationals.