Amid increasing online searches about a possible lockdown in India, a claim has begun circulating on social media suggesting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi hinted at a Covid-style lockdown while addressing Parliament over the ongoing West Asia crisis. But a closer look at his speeches in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha shows that this claim is misleading.
“Closing” claim.
Several posts and online discussions indicated that Modi mentioned the possibility of a lockdown while speaking about the global impact of the ongoing conflict in West Asia. This has led to searches such as “India lockdown again”, “Lockdown news”, and “Is the lockdown coming back in India?” Online.
Speculation increased after the government announced an all-party meeting to discuss the crisis and its repercussions on the Indian economy and supply chains.
What Prime Minister Modi actually said
In his speeches in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha earlier this week, the Prime Minister referred to the Covid-19 pandemic, but only as an example of how the country is dealing with the global crisis.
While addressing Parliament on the impact of conflict in West Asia, Modi said India had previously faced unrest during the Covid period and stressed the importance of national unity during difficult times.
He urged citizens to remain “prepared and united, just as they stood together during the COVID-19 pandemic,” while warning that global disruptions caused by the war could have long-term economic consequences.
“As we can see, the situation regarding this war is changing moment by moment. Therefore, I would also like to say to my fellow citizens that we must prepare for every challenge. There is a strong possibility that the negative effects of this war will continue for a long time. But I assure the people of the country that the government is alert and ready, working fully on the strategy, and taking all necessary decisions,” Prime Minister Modi said.
However, the word “closing” is not used in either speech.
Why has the confusion spread?
This speculation appears to have been driven by a combination of factors:
- Ongoing disruptions to global supply chains due to ongoing conflict in West Asia.
- Concerns about oil and gas supplies through the Strait of Hormuz.
- Reports of LPG supply restrictions and fuel saving measures in some countries.
- Public memories of the national lockdown imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
These developments have revived memories of pandemic-era restrictions, leading many people to assume that the government may be preparing to take similar measures.
Current status
India is not facing any COVID-19 emergency that would require a lockdown. The country currently has very few active coronavirus cases, and the public health situation remains under control.
Instead, the government’s focus in Parliament has been on mitigating the economic and supply chain impacts caused by the conflict in West Asia, especially the disruption of oil, gas and fertilizer shipments.
Judgment
False/misleading.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not mention the lockdown in his recent parliamentary speeches. He referred to the COVID-19 period only to highlight how the country has faced previous global turmoil with unity and preparedness.
