For Narendra Modi BJP is above India:
While the world was busy preparing itself for the Covid 19 Pandemic, Modi ji had other agendas on his list:
1. Sounding the Poll Bugle for Bihar Elections:
• Modi along with other prominent BJP leaders kick started the Bihar Assembly Election Campaign by relishing “Litti Chokha”at Hunar Haat of India Gate lawns
• Modi ji’s ‘Pradhan Mantri Ke Mann Ki Baat, Saptarishi Ke Saath’, on 31 May. Under this, ‘saptarishis’ — the seven-member committees of every booth in Bihar followed by distribution of his letter to people.
• Announcement of Virtual Rally by Amit Shah on the 9th June, the Home Minister and Modi’s General, who went missing during the lockdown period suddenly is on Pole position for Bihar Elections.
2. Forming BJP Govt in Madhya Pradesh:
• 23 MLAs of the Democratically Elected Congress Govt under Kamalnath as CM were ‘Air-lifted’ by BJP to destabilise the State Govt.
• Madhya Pradesh Governor Ordered Floor Test of Kamalnath Govt, but 16 MLAs resigned one day before and the resignations were accepted by the Speaker…Kamalnath tendered his Resignation saying "All that has happened in Madhya Pradesh in the last two weeks is a new chapter in the weakening of democratic principles.”
• Shivraj Singh Chouhan was sworn in as Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister on 23rd March 2020 night in a simple ceremony at Raj Bhawan in view of the coronavirus pandemic. He wins the Confidence Motion.
3. Announcement of Total Lockdown:
• On 24 March 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi ordered a nationwide lockdown for 21 days, limiting movement of the entire 1.3 billion population of India as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 pandemic
• Phase 1: 25 March 2020 – 14 April 2020 (21 days)
• Phase 2: 15 April 2020 – 3 May 2020 (19 days)
• Phase 3: 4 May 2020 – 17 May 2020 (14 days)
• Phase 4: 18 May 2020 – 31 May 2020 (14 days)
• Phase 5 (only for containment zones): 1 June 2020 – ongoing (5 days); scheduled to end on 30 June 2020
• Lockdown was intended to contain the spread of coronavirus outbreak in India by imposing Ban on people from stepping out of their homes
• All services and shops closed except pharmacies, hospitals, banks, grocery shops and other essential services
• Closure of commercial and private establishments (only work-from-home allowed)
• Suspension of all educational, training, research institutions
• Closure of all places of worship
• Suspension of all non-essential public and private transport
• Prohibition of all social, political, sports, entertainment, academic, cultural, religious activities
• A four hour notice was given to 1.3 billion people before announcing a complete lockdown, as a result millions were stranded in different parts of the country as the public transport came to a sudden halt.
4. Announcement of PMGKY (PM Garib Kalan Yojna):
• Finance Minister announced 1.7 lakh crore relief package under PMGKY for the poor in view of lockdown.
• Counted Union budget spending of Farmers and pensioners as part of Covid Package.
• DA hike to the tune of 38,000 crores, of govt employees, pensioners put on hold till July 2021
5. Formation of PM Cares Fund to fight Covid19:
• On 28th March 2020, under his own Chairmanship Modi formed PM Cares Fund, a Private Trust with Amit Shah HM, Nirmala Sitharaman FM, Rajnath Singh DM as its members.
• He kept it away from RTI, Audit by CAG and even IT scanners. Even today PM is not willing to divulge any details of the funds received or spent.
• CSR funds to mandatory deductions of employees and PSUs have been carefully diverted into PM Cares from PMNRF.
6. Diya Jalao Ritual:
• On 5 April, PM Modi called for solidarity with the health workers, police, and all those fighting the disease by switching off the electric lights at home for 9 minutes from 9:00 p.m. to 9:09 p.m. and observe lighting diya, candle; and flashing torchlight and mobile flashlight.
• Focus was on keeping the Publicity Graph of Modi ji high, because the Frontline workers were neither equipped or empowered.
• Modi Govt continued to deny community transfer and sang praises of Modi ji’s success in containing the Pandemic.
7. Delay in announcing Covid Package:
• Modi was smart enough to urge the Employers not to sack the employees or deduct the pays, he also asked the landlords not to ask rents during the lockdown. But did a complete U turn after he failed to address the aggravated Economic crisis.
• His much hyped Package 2020 of 20 lakhs was telecasted in 6 episodes, which was more of a Union Budget speech and loan mela…end of the day the total package isn’t more than 1.5% of the GDP.
• In spite of continuous requests and suggestions to the Govt for immediate direct cash transfers to poor and Financial stimulus to MSMEs, govt is not willing to budge.
8. Failed Migrant Workers and unleashed a major Humanitarian Crisis:
• A nationwide lockdown and sudden suspension of all transport has left millions of migrant workers in limbo. Many of them are in a dire situation and have been driven close to starvation. Only few states have extended relief measures to stranded Migrants.
• Even if migrant workers manage to return to their villages amid the coronavirus pandemic, they are forced to undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine.
• The World Bank has called on the Indian government to include all migrant workers in public services, including healthcare and cash transfer programs.
9. Inadequate coordination between the Centre and states:
• The primary challenge in implementing the precautionary measures of "stay at home", maintaining physical distance, and frequent handwashing in the country was that over 4 million people live in homelessness in urban areas, and 75 million people live in informal settlements without access to essential services.
• Lack of universalisation of public distribution system left people hungry, lack of identity documents excluded workers from accessing state benefits during the lockdown.
• Inadequate coordination between the Centre and states was one of the reasons which led to poor implementation of relief measures, funding concerns and delayed response mechanisms for marginalised groups during the lockdown.
While the world was busy preparing itself for the Covid 19 Pandemic, Modi ji had other agendas on his list:
1. Sounding the Poll Bugle for Bihar Elections:
• Modi along with other prominent BJP leaders kick started the Bihar Assembly Election Campaign by relishing “Litti Chokha”at Hunar Haat of India Gate lawns
• Modi ji’s ‘Pradhan Mantri Ke Mann Ki Baat, Saptarishi Ke Saath’, on 31 May. Under this, ‘saptarishis’ — the seven-member committees of every booth in Bihar followed by distribution of his letter to people.
• Announcement of Virtual Rally by Amit Shah on the 9th June, the Home Minister and Modi’s General, who went missing during the lockdown period suddenly is on Pole position for Bihar Elections.
2. Forming BJP Govt in Madhya Pradesh:
• 23 MLAs of the Democratically Elected Congress Govt under Kamalnath as CM were ‘Air-lifted’ by BJP to destabilise the State Govt.
• Madhya Pradesh Governor Ordered Floor Test of Kamalnath Govt, but 16 MLAs resigned one day before and the resignations were accepted by the Speaker…Kamalnath tendered his Resignation saying "All that has happened in Madhya Pradesh in the last two weeks is a new chapter in the weakening of democratic principles.”
• Shivraj Singh Chouhan was sworn in as Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister on 23rd March 2020 night in a simple ceremony at Raj Bhawan in view of the coronavirus pandemic. He wins the Confidence Motion.
3. Announcement of Total Lockdown:
• On 24 March 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi ordered a nationwide lockdown for 21 days, limiting movement of the entire 1.3 billion population of India as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 pandemic
• Phase 1: 25 March 2020 – 14 April 2020 (21 days)
• Phase 2: 15 April 2020 – 3 May 2020 (19 days)
• Phase 3: 4 May 2020 – 17 May 2020 (14 days)
• Phase 4: 18 May 2020 – 31 May 2020 (14 days)
• Phase 5 (only for containment zones): 1 June 2020 – ongoing (5 days); scheduled to end on 30 June 2020
• Lockdown was intended to contain the spread of coronavirus outbreak in India by imposing Ban on people from stepping out of their homes
• All services and shops closed except pharmacies, hospitals, banks, grocery shops and other essential services
• Closure of commercial and private establishments (only work-from-home allowed)
• Suspension of all educational, training, research institutions
• Closure of all places of worship
• Suspension of all non-essential public and private transport
• Prohibition of all social, political, sports, entertainment, academic, cultural, religious activities
• A four hour notice was given to 1.3 billion people before announcing a complete lockdown, as a result millions were stranded in different parts of the country as the public transport came to a sudden halt.
4. Announcement of PMGKY (PM Garib Kalan Yojna):
• Finance Minister announced 1.7 lakh crore relief package under PMGKY for the poor in view of lockdown.
• Counted Union budget spending of Farmers and pensioners as part of Covid Package.
• DA hike to the tune of 38,000 crores, of govt employees, pensioners put on hold till July 2021
5. Formation of PM Cares Fund to fight Covid19:
• On 28th March 2020, under his own Chairmanship Modi formed PM Cares Fund, a Private Trust with Amit Shah HM, Nirmala Sitharaman FM, Rajnath Singh DM as its members.
• He kept it away from RTI, Audit by CAG and even IT scanners. Even today PM is not willing to divulge any details of the funds received or spent.
• CSR funds to mandatory deductions of employees and PSUs have been carefully diverted into PM Cares from PMNRF.
6. Diya Jalao Ritual:
• On 5 April, PM Modi called for solidarity with the health workers, police, and all those fighting the disease by switching off the electric lights at home for 9 minutes from 9:00 p.m. to 9:09 p.m. and observe lighting diya, candle; and flashing torchlight and mobile flashlight.
• Focus was on keeping the Publicity Graph of Modi ji high, because the Frontline workers were neither equipped or empowered.
• Modi Govt continued to deny community transfer and sang praises of Modi ji’s success in containing the Pandemic.
7. Delay in announcing Covid Package:
• Modi was smart enough to urge the Employers not to sack the employees or deduct the pays, he also asked the landlords not to ask rents during the lockdown. But did a complete U turn after he failed to address the aggravated Economic crisis.
• His much hyped Package 2020 of 20 lakhs was telecasted in 6 episodes, which was more of a Union Budget speech and loan mela…end of the day the total package isn’t more than 1.5% of the GDP.
• In spite of continuous requests and suggestions to the Govt for immediate direct cash transfers to poor and Financial stimulus to MSMEs, govt is not willing to budge.
8. Failed Migrant Workers and unleashed a major Humanitarian Crisis:
• A nationwide lockdown and sudden suspension of all transport has left millions of migrant workers in limbo. Many of them are in a dire situation and have been driven close to starvation. Only few states have extended relief measures to stranded Migrants.
• Even if migrant workers manage to return to their villages amid the coronavirus pandemic, they are forced to undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine.
• The World Bank has called on the Indian government to include all migrant workers in public services, including healthcare and cash transfer programs.
9. Inadequate coordination between the Centre and states:
• The primary challenge in implementing the precautionary measures of "stay at home", maintaining physical distance, and frequent handwashing in the country was that over 4 million people live in homelessness in urban areas, and 75 million people live in informal settlements without access to essential services.
• Lack of universalisation of public distribution system left people hungry, lack of identity documents excluded workers from accessing state benefits during the lockdown.
• Inadequate coordination between the Centre and states was one of the reasons which led to poor implementation of relief measures, funding concerns and delayed response mechanisms for marginalised groups during the lockdown.
