We need to win this battle. And we will win: PM Modi on Mann Ki Baat, March 2020

Addressing the 10th Episode of ‘Mann Ki Baat 2.0’, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi apologized for taking tough decisions, reiterated that the battle against COVID 19 required some tough decisions.

He said it was important to keep the people of India safe and expressed confidence that together India will defeat COVID-19.

PM Modi appreciated everyone for staying indoors who have continued to demonstrate bravery and are adhering to this lockdown. “The Lockdown will keep the people as well as their families safe and those who are not following the rule of isolation will be in trouble” he cautioned.  He requested everyone to understand the gravity of the situation and stay indoors.

Sharing his thoughts in Mann Ki Baat today, the Prime Minister said he feels sorry for the hardships being faced by all, especially the poor owing to the lockdown. He empathized with the people and said in order to battle Coronavirus in a country of 130 crore people such as India, there was no other option. He added that such strong measures were resorted to because it was a situation of life or death, looking at what the world was going through.

PM Modi said that many countries had a fanciful notion that there is no need for social distancing and are regretting now. “This time teaches us to reduce emotional distance and increase social distance”, PM Modi said. Coronavirus is posing a challenge to knowledge, science, rich-poor, strong-weak alike. It is not confined to any nation’s borders, nor does it make the distinction of region or season.

In Today’s Mann Ki Baat, PM Modi interacted with citizens who have battled COVID-19 so far. He also talked with a few doctors and asked to share their pieces of advice to the listeners. PM expressed gratitude to all those who are working hard to ensure that essential services continue uninterrupted – power supply sector, retail stores, digital payments, drivers, banking services, the supply chain of essential goods, TV, and delivery personnel of E-commerce.

Quoting an adage “Evam Evam Vikar, api tarunha Saadhyate Sukham” meaning, “illness and its scourge should be nipped in the bud itself,” he stressed later on, when it becomes incurable, treatment is very difficult. He said the Coronavirus has incarcerated the world. PM said, “It is posing a challenge to Knowledge, science, the rich and the poor, the strong and the weak alike. It is not confined to any nation’s borders, nor does it make a distinction of region or season.”

PM Modi highlighted 2020 is the ‘International Year of the Nurse and Midwife’ and remembered Florence Nightingale who lent a new identity, a new paradigm to the term ‘Service to humanity’ and the field of Nursing, taking it to newer heights. The Prime Minister called for humankind to rise unitedly in the resolve to exterminate it since this virus had obstinately picked up the gauntlet to annihilate the human race. He clarified that complying with the lockdown is not for helping others but a means to protect oneself. He urged the people to protect oneself and their family for the next many days and abide by the Lakshman Rekha.

The Prime Minister said that some people are violating the lockdown since they are not trying to understand the gravity of the matter. He appealed to them, to comply with the lockdown rule, or else it will be difficult to save ourselves from the scourge of the Coronavirus. Quoting an adage “Aarogyam Param Bhagyam, Swasthyam Sarwaarth Sadhanam” – which means good health is the greatest fortune, he stressed, Health is the only way to happiness in the world. In that backdrop, he reiterated that those who are breaking the rules are playing with their lives. PM requested everyone to comply with the lockdown without which it will be difficult to save ourselves from the scourge of Coronavirus.

Concluding the 10th episode of ‘Mann Ki Baat 2.0’, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi hoped and wished that country would have overcome the crisis when he meets again next month. He concluded by saying, “We need to win this battle. And we will win.”