Puducherry CM follows PM Modi’s appeal and lights candle but says this won’t help eradicate Covid-19 from country

Bosco Dominique | TNN | Apr 6, 2020, 19:40 IST

Puducherry chief minister V Narayanasamy holds a candle on Sunday night

PUDUCHERRY: Puducherry chief minister V Narayanasamy has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take concrete efforts to ensure the availability of adequate number of personal protection kits, masks, ventilators, life-saving drugs to effectively combat the spread of Covid-19 in the country.
Speaking to reporters after lighting a candle for nine minutes at 9pm on Sunday following an appeal from Modi, Narayanasamy said lighting lamps and clapping hands will not eradicate Covid-19 from the country.
“The Prime Minister has a greater responsibility of protecting the nation and its people from the pandemic. It is the collective duty and responsibility of the Prime Minister and his cabinet colleagues and chief ministers of the states and Union territories. Prime Minister must lead from the front in combating Covid-19. Clapping hands and lighting lamps will not eradicate corona. We did it as Prime minister made an appeal. We followed Prime Minister’s appeals and advisories. Now it is time for him to take concrete action,” Narayanasamy said.
Making it clear that his intentions was not to politicise the issue, Narayanasamy said the need of the hour was to strengthen the health infrastructure in the country. “What is the need of the hour? We need life-saving drugs, ventilators, masks and monitors besides N-95 masks and personal protection kits for the medical and paramedical staff members. Do we have adequate stock of these necessary items at the time of a pandemic? Are we taking enough steps to ensure its availability?” he questioned.
He pointed out that even developed countries have started procuring ventilators and other life-saving devices and drugs from China. He regretted that the Prime Minister, who have been holding consultations with the former presidents, prime ministers, cine and sports stars, have not invited economists and experts for discussions to revive the country’s economy and to protect the livelihood of different sections of people.
He said all sections of people including farmers, traders, industries, workers, auto and cab drivers, domestic maids, temple priests and others had been greatly affected by the spread of Covid-19, which crushed the country’s economy.
He said the economic experts had urged the Prime Minister to release Covid19 relief and rehabilitation package of Rs 11 lakh crore to revive the country’s economy and protect the livelihoods of all sections of the people. He pointed out that China released $3 billion for Wuhan, which was the worst affected region in the country by Covid-19, to revive the city’s economy and protect the livelihoods of the people.
Narayanasamy also urged Modi to evolve strategies that need to be adopted after April 14 if the situation does not improve post lockdown and announce the strategies immediately to enable the countrymen to prepare themselves in the fight against the virus.
“Prime Minister must come out with clear-cut policies to tide over the economic crisis and protect the livelihood of all sections of people besides revealing the strategies to be adopted post lockdown,” he said.