India lockdown model needs to be followed to tackle COVID-19: Activist

WASHINGTON: A political activist from Gilgit Baltistan has praised India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his quick and stringent initiative to tackle coronavirus pandemic.

Political activist Senge Hasnan Sering also suggested SAARC nations to follow the same.
Talking to ANI, Sering said that PM Modi announced a three-week-long lockdown to prevent the transmission through infected persons.

Pakistan, which has been one of the worst-hit countries among SAARC members, Sering argued, needs to should follow PM Modi’s strategy and lockdown the country to minimize fatalities.

Indian Prime Minister Modi on March 24 announced a 21-day nationwide lockdown considering the complexity in dealing with the coronavirus by some developed countries.

It should be noted that in the United States, more than 164,359 COVID-19 cases have been recorded so far, whereas Italy has more than 101,739; Spain more than 87,956 and Germany more than 67,051 positive cases.

In India, however, a little more than 1,251 Coronavirus cases have been recorded so far.

Even though more than 1,865 Coronavirus cases have been recorded so far, Pakistan has not declared nationwide lockdown.

Senge, who originally hails from Pakistan-occupied Gilgit Baltistan said that Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan’s ‘failed policy’ is turning the occupied Gilgit Baltistan into epicenter of the coronavirus.

Senge said despite Gilgit Baltistan lacks supplies and equipment to deal with suspected patients, Pakistan government is deliberately allowing the Iran-returned pilgrims to Gilgit Baltistan without proper screening.

He said he would rather salute PM Modi for making sure that Indians get food ration at doorsteps at affordable prices.

Senge, who currently lives in Washington DC, said that PM Modi also announced a moratorium on interest payments to provide relief to people who have lost jobs or without no income to make payments on mortgages.

He suggested that Pakistan, too, can follow PM Modi’s strategy in this regard and give relief to its citizens. (With inputs from ANI)