New Delhi: On Tuesday, April 20, the Prime Minister’s Office announced that Narendra Modi would be addressing the nation at 8:45 pm on the COVID-19 situation.
With Modi’s speeches amidst the health crisis previously signalling sweeping changes, many wondered whether this address would provide clarity on uncertain issues like lack of price caps for the now-liberalised vaccine market, a roadmap for health infrastructure to address supply chain issues causing a critical lack of oxygen, or even an impending national lockdown.
However, it was not to be. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech conspicuously lacked logistical information on the way forward, and focussed instead on reassuring platitudes – which did not work the way they were intended.
Also read: COVID-19: Delhi Hospitals Get Fresh Supply Of Oxygen, but Stocks May Last For Only ‘Two Days’
Responses on social media called out the prime minister’s callous disregard for the extent of the crisis and how he failed to take any accountability for the current state. Comic Azeem Banatwalla said, “So the general gist of the Modi speech is, “Hey, we aren’t able to handle this anymore, why don’t you try?”
So the general gist of the Modi speech is “Hey, hum se toh nahi ho raha hai, ab tum log hi try kar lo 🤷🏽♂️”
— Azeem Banatwalla (@TheBanat) April 20, 2021
Modi warned states that a lockdown should be considered a last resort, while simultaneously urging citizens to stay in their homes and maintain COVID-19 hygiene protocol. He called on the support of ‘bal mitron’, or the nation’s youth, to form committees to ensure that these protocols were being followed. This was widely considered a bad idea.
Hot take: the youth AREN'T supposed to come together to handle a pandemic. The government is. https://t.co/J8UX46l1SE
— Disha Ravi 𓆉 (@disharavii) April 20, 2021
What Modiji Wants Us to Have:
Bal mitron.
Choti Choti Committees.
Dhairya.
Anusashan.
Maryada.AdvertisementWhat We Need:
Oxygen
Ventilators
ICU beds
Vaccines
More Doctors— Harneet Singh (@Harneetsin) April 20, 2021
Comedian Danish Sait did a satirical bit about conversations happening after the speech saying, “Government has not announced lockdown, but he has requested my 10-year-old bal mitra to lock me inside the bedroom.”
Conversations about today’s announcement. pic.twitter.com/Pzkp2mL4WF
Advertisement— Danish Sait (@DanishSait) April 20, 2021
The comedian’s character goes on to ask, “Any new information he has given sir?” to find the response, “Chhe chhe, god bless, nothing like that sir, you can watch any old speech on Youtube, same information.”
The absence of any real value add from the speech was a consistent theme.
Modi’s address might as well have been a camera pointed at a blank wall. He literally said nothing of value nor did he give any info about how things will get better
He’s put the onus on the states, which tbh might be the best thing since clearly the central govt doesn’t care
— Andre Borges (@borges) April 20, 2021
This speech could have been a whatsapp forward.
— Sahil Shah 🇮🇳 (@SahilBulla) April 20, 2021
Me the next time someone asks me to fulfil my responsibilities and do my job pic.twitter.com/b5Vg4Ndn59
— Kevin Lee (@kevinkennethlee) April 20, 2021
People talked about the very real actions that need to be taken, and the absence of any transparent strategy to address them.
Nation needs oxygen. Not gas.
— Jairaj Singh (@JairajSinghR) April 20, 2021
One Twitter user drew it all together in the prime minister’s own words criticising Manmohan Singh in 2013.
PM @narendramodi summing up his speech from last evening. pic.twitter.com/4wra2H4vWI
— Lavanya Ballal | ಲಾವಣ್ಯ ಬಲ್ಲಾಳ್ (@LavanyaBallal) April 21, 2021
