From Lakshman Rekha to Agni Pareeksha, Modi’s epic decision to extend lockdown in India

He had articulated the necessity of a three-week lockdown on March 23 with the mythological example of Laksman Rekha (A protective shield) drawn from Ramayana. Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, extended the lockdown in India till May 3 insisting on this Agni Pareeksha (trial by fire), a popular reference from the same epic in his televised address today. Modi’s call for an extended lockdown is on expected lines with India crossing the psychological barrier of 10,000 Covid-19 cases.

But, before he left us gaping at the television sets, he dangled a carrot for the well-behaved citizens who came up with a good report after a week when he has promised to review the decision of a lockdown in areas free of the Corona virus. Here are the three main takeaways from his address to the nation.

40-day lockdown without a deadline

While the prime minister aired his assessment of the situation in the country vis-à-vis the rest of the world to build his case for an extended lockdown of almost 3 weeks (19 days), he never really pulled out a date, which would put a full stop to further confinement of people within their homes.

This lockdown in totality would effectively keep you indoors and away from work and public spaces for 40 days. That is 3 out of 4 Sundays in a year. The important observation here is that Modi did not make a definitive statement against ending the lockdown after May 3, which means it’s not over till it’s over.

Carrot and Stick policy

The Lockdown 2, unlike the first one that ends midnight tonight, however, is result oriented and puts you in the driving seat instead of the backseat driving towards the collective effort to flatten the Covid-19 curve in the country.  

The prime minister has left a slim opening for return to active life for areas that remarkably cautious and have shown no sign of the virus till now. He said that the district authorities (essentially the district collector and the chief medical and health officer) will be sending the Union government feedback on the nature and spread of Corona virus in their jurisdiction in the coming week. “Till April 20, the authorities will examine every district. If there are hotspot-free areas and devoid, then relaxations in the lockdown can be considered,” he said.  The measure is to facilitate the earnings of daily wage workers and low-income group population.

This essentially translates into a parents-teacher meeting (PTM). He has asked the students (us) to behave (stay home and follow the lockdown guidelines). If at the end of April 20, the report presented by your state government hails you for good grades, then you may be among those in a defined area where the lockdown can be relaxed. This also means some of us owing to good behaviour will get a parole from your existing home stay and consequently walk out of it before others. The guidelines governing these relaxations and the target groups would be rolled out in the coming days.  

We have to remain in lockdown till May 3 and follow the guidelines until then just as we have been doing

Narendra Modi, Prime Minister

Stricter lockdown

Make no mistake of the state going soft on you during the lockdown. We have to know this that India stands at the cusp of flattening the curve or falling prey to cavalier understanding of the pandemic and its deadly stage of community transmission. There are 10,000-plus cases recorded in India, which as the prime minister was not shy of admitting places us on a better ground than the developed economies where the scale of the diseased and the deceased is devastating. It’s only a matter of time before Covid-19 cases in the world touch the 2 million-mark. There have already 119,000 deaths attributed to the virus worldwide.    

That’s why he made it a point to remind in his third address to the nation since he asked the people to support Janta Curfew that the lockdown would come with stricter measures. He also clarified relaxations, if any, will not come at the expense of beating the Corona virus and rules shall be followed in offering any.