Coronavirus: 'Very pained' - PM Narendra Modi slams those ostracising doctors, airline crews

After making an unprecedented announcement of the complete lockdown spanning the length and breadth of India for 21 days, PM Narendra Modi on Wednesday interacted with the people of Varanasi (Kashi) via video conferencing. During his interaction, PM Modi discussed various aspects relating to COVID-19 with the people of Kashi. PM Narendra Modi represents Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency. Here are the key points of his interaction:-

- As MP from Kashi, I should have been there with you all, but you know how the situation is in Delhi, said PM addressing people of Varanasi

-In this hour of crisis, Kashi can lead the people, can teach the country patience, compassion and peace: PM Narendra Modi

-Social distancing, to be at home only way out, the best option to deal with coronavirus: PM

-This disease doesn't discriminate between rich and poor: PM

-People should focus on how deadly this virus is: PM

-Around one lakh people infected with coronavirus are recovering, this also needs to be highlighted: PM

-Govt has tied up with WhatsApp to create a helpdesk to give credible information on coronavirus. The number is 9013151515: PM

-Very pained at this behaviour: PM on misbehaviour with staff of essential services

-People in white in hospitals and clinics are our gods now; they should be respected: PM on misbehaviour with medics

-PM slams those ostracising doctors, airline crew

-We can fight coronavirus by also showing compassion towards the poor: PM

-Those who can should pledge to help 9 families for next 21 days; can't be a bigger offering to gods during navratras: PM

-We are facing challenges globally, difficulties will arise; we have to come out victorious: PM

-We should encourage all the work done by those providing us essential services: PM

-Don't focus on mistakes during this crisis; more you support the administration, more successful will be our fight against the disease: PM

-Speak to your doctor before taking any medicine; there's no medicine or vaccine for it as of now: PM on self medication by people

Discussing aspects relating to COVID-19 with the people of Kashi. https://t.co/j1Mk00HluB

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 25, 2020

Earlier, on Tuesday night, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced a complete lockdown across the country for 21 days from Tuesday midnight. In his second address to the nation on the pandemic raging across much of the world with the number of infections rising in India, Modi made a fervent appeal to the countrymen not to cross the 'lakshman rekha' of their homes in the next three weeks. Any negligence in these 21 days will "push the country and your families by 21 years", he said underlining the massive danger the coronavirus poses.