New Delhi:  Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address to the nation on Tuesday  announced a complete lockdown across the nation as a means to combat coronavirus.
PM Modi said that this nation-wide lockdown will last for 21 days. He stressed on the importance of this lockdown and spoke of the consequences that India could bear if the virus is not kept under control for the next 21 days.
“For the next 21 days, the entire country will go into lockdown. It is of utmost importance that India stops the spread of this virus in the next 21 days or else the nation will get pushed back 21 years, many families will be devastated forever,” PM Modi said.
He congratulated people for the success of the Janata Curfew, on March 22, but said that what the coming few weeks are crucial.
“Today India is at the stage where our actions today, will decide that to what extent we can bring down the impact of this disaster. This is the time to strengthen our resolve again and again,” the Prime Minister said.
He added, “The state governments have also put lockdowns in their states. Please take this very seriously.”
“You have to remember that a Coronavirus infected person initially appears to be normal and doesn’t show symptoms. So maintain precautions and stay at home,” he further requested. “In these testing times please do not take any medicine unless prescribed.”

“Twenty-one days is a long time, but it is important to keep you and your family healthy. I am absolutely sure that every Indian will come out with this lockdown victorious,” PM Modi said.

He said, “I am certain that the private sector stands with every citizen of the country in these challenging times. Have requested State governments that their priority has to be healthcare alone. Centre will allocate Rs 15,000 crore to strengthen the healthcare infrastructure in the country”
The Prime Minister said, “We are working on the directions of WHO and taken many decisions. The Centre is doing what it can to strengthen the healthcare system in the country. Whatever is required to save lives will be given top priority. This hour of crisis has also affected the poor people. The entire state machinery is working to minimize the impact of this pandemic on poor people. All efforts are being made and will be made to ensure you get what is essential.”
He said, “Central and state governments are working at a fast pace to ensure that people don’t face inconvenience. Think and pray for the police personnel who are on duty 24×7 to keep you and your families safe. Think of people in the media who are working 24×7 to keep you informed.”

Earlier, PM Modi lauded  the media for its praise worthy role in disseminating information about the Coronavirus to every nook and cranny of the country.
He called on the media to generate awareness about importance of social distancing to tackle the spread of Coronavirus.

In an interaction with over twenty journalists and stakeholders from print media from all over the country via video conference, the Prime Minister said that media has played a praise-worthy role in disseminating information to every nook and cranny of this nation.

He said that the network of media is pan-India and spread across cities and villages. This makes the media all the more significant in fighting this challenge and spreading correct information about it at micro level.

Modi said that newspapers carry tremendous credibility and the local page of a region is widely read by people. ‘It is, therefore, imperative that awareness about coronavirus is spread through articles published in this page. It is essential to inform people about where the testing centres are, who should get tested, whom to contact to get tested and follow home isolation protocols. This information should be shared in newspapers and web portals of the paper, the Prime Minister said. He also suggested that information like location of availability of essential items during lockdown can also be shared in the regional pages,’ the PM said.

Prime Minister asked the media to act as a link between government and people, and provide continuous feedback, at both national and regional level.

He underlined the importance of social distancing, asking media to generate awareness about its importance, inform people about the lockdown decision by states, and also highlight the impact of spread of the virus, through inclusion of international data and case studies about other countries in the papers.

Underlining that it is imperative to keep the fighting spirit of the people up; PM emphasized that it was important to tackle the spread of pessimism, negativity and rumour mongering.

‘Citizens need to be assured that the government is committed to countering the impact of COVID-19,’he said.

The journalists joined the interaction from fourteen locations and consisted of both national and regional media, representing eleven different languages.

The journalists and stakeholders from Print Media appreciated the role played by the Prime Minister in communicating effectively and leading the country from the front.

They said that they will work on the suggestions of the Prime Minister to publish inspiring and positive stories.

They also thanked him for reinforcing the credibility of print media and noted that the entire nation has followed his message of coming together to face this grave challenge.

Prime Minister thanked the participants for the feedback and reminded them of the social responsibility towards the less privileged. He said it is critical to improve social cohesion to safeguard our national security.

The Health Secretary thanked the journalists for preventing the spread of panic through sharing information about proactive, preemptive and graded response of the Government.

She appealed to the print media to prevent the spread of misinformation in this hour of crisis.

Information and Broadcasting Ministry and I and B Secretary also participated in the interaction. (With Inputs From Agencies)

Srinagar: The COVID-19 threat may turn into a full blown crisis has sent alarm bells ringing across Jammu and Kashmir.
The administration has announced that it would act tough against the violators of lockdown and it has already started booking the people, who are not following the directions.
Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Dr Shahid Iqbal Chaudary had tweeted that if he shares all the information, people in Kashmir will get sleepless nights. He had urged people to follow the government directions and keep themselves safe.
“It’s like a war like situation. Air and surface transport have been suspended. Complete lockdown has been ordered as the invisible enemy is on prowl and can hit anyone,” an analyst told Precious Kashmir.
He said that it’s unfortunate that the doctors and other medical staffers who are at the forefront to fight this pandemic are struggling to get the protective gear. “The priority of the administration should be to protect the medicos, whose role is no less than the army in the given circumstances. They need to be provided with the protective gear without any delay. One cannot expect any army to fight a war without weapons,” he added.
An observer said, “The J&K administration sealing its borders with the neighbouring States is a step in right direction as it will stop the influx of people entering into Jammu and Kashmir.”
He said, “Non-local labourers had started arriving in hordes and increase in their number could have given a tough time to the authorities in Kashmir.  The only way to tackle the COVID-19 threat is to break the chain and it can be done by keeping people indoors and stopping them for gathering at one place.”
There were reports that playfields in Kashmir were full during the past few days but Police have started cracking the whip by not allowing youth to assemble and play cricket matches. Shopkeepers are being booked for violating the lockdown orders. Jammu-Srinagar National Highway has been closed. People who have arrived from COVID-19 hit countries have been sent to quarantine centers’. One elderly woman, who had tested positive for COVID-19 in Kashmir, is recuperating at SKIMS and her close contacts have tested negative.  But three more people testing positive in Srinagar on Tuesday has added to the panic.

“J&K administration is trying its best to keep things under control and is taking preemptive measures to ensure that the time bomb doesn’t explode. But these measures can’t help till people cooperate and understand the gravity of the situation,” said an observer.
He said that people at the helm will have to put in little more extra effort to keep people away from the hospitals as “health infrastructure” in Jammu and Kashmir is not upto the mark. “People too need to realize that the time bomb is ticking and the only way to save their lives is to diffuse it,” the observer added.

^{Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir former chief minister and National Conference (NC) vice-president Omar Abdullah was released on Tuesday here after spending about eight months in detention since August 5.}

^{The detention of Omar was revoked after Public Safety Act (PSA) slapped on him was withdrawn by the J&K administration on Tuesday. “In exercise of powers conferred under Section 19(1) of the Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act, 1978, the government hereby revokes the detention order bearing No. DMS/PSA/146/2020 issued by District Magistrate, Srinagar of Omar Abdullah with immediate effect,” an order issued Home Secretary Shaleen Kabra said.}

^{Soon after being set free Omar urged the Centre to release all detained people, including politicians, within and outside Jammu and Kashmir and  appealed for restoration of high speed internet service in J&K in view of Coronavirus outbreak.}

^{He said people faced a lot of hardships post August 5 decision of the Centre, but the time was not ripe to talk about them as the people were fighting the war of life and death.}

^{”During my detention, I have thought a lot about what I would say about what happened after August 5… what I would say about J&K as a State was broken up into two Union Territories… what I would say about the change in the status of J&K and about the hardships the people faced. But first, let us get rid of Coronavirus, save ourselves and our families and friends from Coronavirus,” Omar told reporters outside his residence.}

^{He said all the detained leaders, including PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, should be released in view of the situation arising out of the coronavirus scare. ”Many people were detained on August 5… some who were politicians and political workers while some who were not affiliated with any political party. All those detained, be it within the state or outside it, I want the Centre to have mercy on them, bring them home and release them in view of the coronavirous outbreak,” he added.}

 ^{Omar also appealed government to restore 4G internet services in J&K. “I humbly appeal the Centre to lift the restrictions on the communication. If nothing, at least 3G/4G be restored. We are told to take lessons on awareness about Coronavirus from the internet, but what to do when nothing opens because of low speed,” he said.}

^{He said, ”We face the fight of our lives over the next few weeks & months as we come to terms & work to defeat COVID 19. I will do everything in my individual capacity to help the authorities overcome this challenge and I appeal to all of you to do the same.”}

^{The former chief minister, who was active on social media before his detention, posted his picture and the order copy of his release on twitter. ”232 days after my detention today I finally left Hari Niwas. It’s a very different world today to the one that existed on 5th August 2019,” he wrote.}

^{”Had lunch with my mum & dad for the first time in almost 8 months. I can’t remember a better meal even though I’ve been in a bit of a daze & don’t remember what I ate,” Omar tweeted along with the picture of his father, mother and his picture.}

^{BY: Rakshanda Bhat}

^{Srinagar, Mar 24: The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Tuesday said its response to the demand for restoration of high speed internet services in Jammu and Kashmir is much “calibrated” and the internet services in the UT are being upgraded according to the needs.}

^{Talking to Kashmir In-depth News Service (KINS), exclusively over phone from New Delhi,  senior security advisor in the MHA on J&K affairs K Vijay Kumar said, “ Our response to the issue (restoration of 4-G services) is steadily calibrated. Internet services are being upgraded according to the needs.”} 

^{“They (Govt in J&K UT) have to look at various parameters like society, environment, situation to lower down restrictions,” he said, adding that the J&K UT government is taking certain steps for lifting curbs like releasing detainees.}

^{The high speed internet services were snapped across J&K prior to the Centre’s announcement on August 5 last year in the wake of scrapping of J&Ks’ special status and slicing of erstwhile state into two UTs—J&K and Ladakh.}

^{Of late, at a time when J&K is under tight grip of fear triggered by the pandemic COVID-19 the demand for restoration of 4-G services has gone shriller with even top officials from the government demanding it as a means to know various methods being adopted by the global community to fight the Coronavirus. (KINS).}

Srinagar, Mar 24: Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) president Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Tuesday welcomed the release of former chief minister Omar Abdullah, and demanded that all other political detainees including former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti be also released at an earliest in view of COVID-19 outbreak.

In a statement issued here, Bukhari termed the revocation of PSA against Omar Abdullah a significant move that will help in making the situation more conducive in Jammu and Kashmir. He demanded the other chief minister—Mehbooba Mufti besides hundreds of political activists currently detained in and outside Jammu and Kashmir jails be freed especially in view of the Coronavirus pandemic.

“It has been our consistent demand that all the political activists and leaders including former chief ministers be released to ease up the sufferings of people. Their release has assumed more significance in light of the COVID-19 outbreak that has paralyzed the whole world,” Bukhari observed.

He said that hundreds of political activists who are presently detained in outside Jammu Kashmir jails like Ambedkar Nagar, Lucknow, Allahabad, Agra, Rai Bareli, Agartala and Tihar need to be shifted back to their native places immediately so as to ensure their safety from the pandemic.

Iltija Mufti, daughter of PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, also welcomed the release of Omar Abdullah.

However, Iltija, whose mother remains under detention, said for all their talk of nari shakti and women emancipation, seems like this regime fears women the most.

”Glad he will be released. For all their talk of nari Shakti & women emancipation, seems like this regime fears women the most (sic),” Iltija wrote on Mehbooba Mufti’s Twitter handle.

The comment was in reference to her mother being under detention since August 5, when Centre abrogated Article 370 and Article 35 A. Mufti has been tweeting from her mother’s handle ever since the former chief minister was detained.

She also retweeted, tweets of various political leaders, including Congress’s Shashi Tharoor and CPI(M)’s Sitaram Yechury, demanding the release of the PDP president.

Senior CPI(M) leader M Y Tarigami while welcoming Omar’s release, demanded release of other political detainees, including PDP president Mehbooba Mufti.

‘CPI(M) welcomes the release of Omar Abdullah. But we have been urging upon the Centre to release political leaders of all shades, particularly all those persons who have been put in different jails across the country, including in J&K,’ Tarigami told UNI.

Srinagar, Mar 24:  Three more persons on Tuesday tested positive for Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Kashmir  bringing the total number of infected people to four.

However, the authorities asked people not to panic and urged them to be more alert and cooperative to stop further spread of the disease in the valley.

“Two more cases reported positive in Srinagar. One has confirmed travel history outside India. Full details regarding the second being ascertained,” J&K Union Territory Administration spokesperson Rohit Kansal said on Tuesday.

Later in the evening one more person tested positive for COVID-19.

Reacting to the recent development, District magistrate Srinagar Shahid Iqbal Choudhary said teams are on ground as per Standard Operation Procedure (SOP). “We need to be more alert and cooperative. Please cooperate,” he added.

Sources said that one of the two Coronavirus positive patients had returned from an international conference in New Delhi while another has a travel history of Saudi Arabia. “The third had also come back to the valley few days back,” they said.

They said one of them, a resident of Natipora Srinagar, had returned from Saudi Arabia on March 16 in the same flight which was boarded by the woman, who was the first coronavirus positive case in the valley. “The 57-year-old man was admitted to CD hospital couple of days back,” they said.

They said the other patient, a resident of Hyderpora Srinagar, had returned from New Delhi recently after attending ‘Tablighi Jamaat’ attended by people from Indonesia and Malaysia.

They said a person was admitted to Government Medical College, Baramulla with coronavirus like symptoms few days back. “The result of the 22-year-old youth came out positive for the virus,” they added.

Meanwhile, the daily media bulletin on novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)  released by the government on Tuesday evening  informed that 4765 travellers and persons in contact with suspected cases have been put under surveillance and, so far, only six cases have tested positive in Jammu and Kashmir and one among them has already recovered.

The bulletin said that 2928 persons have been kept under home quarantine while as 71 are in hospital quarantine.

Persons who are under home surveillance stand at 1268 while as 498 persons have completed their 28-day surveillance period.

The bulletin further said that 279 samples have been sent for testing of which 253 tested as negative. Only six persons have tested positive so far and of them only five are Active Positive and one patient has recovered.

The bulletin further stated that 20 reports are awaited till March 24, 2020.

Meanwhile, a 24×7 toll free national helpline number 1075 has been activated for support, guidance, and response to health related queries on novel coronavirus disease. The government of Jammu and Kashmir has also set up helpline numbers in this regard: 0191-2549676 (UT level Cell for J&K), 0191-2520982, 0191-2674444, 0191-2674115 (For Jammu Division),0194-2440283 and 0194-2430581 (For Kashmir Division).

According to government advisory, public is urged to stay at home to slow the spread of the Novel Coronavirus Disease (Covid-19) and advised not to venture out unless it is absolutely essential.

The government has appealed the students and travellers having travel history of Covid-19 affected countries and other affected areas of the country who have not declared their travel history till date to report their travel history to local health authorities / Covid-19 helpline Numbers immediately. According to the advisory, family members, neighbours and people in general are appealed to bring such cases in notice of the administration, so that necessary measures in the interest of public health can be taken by the Government.

The government has also urged public to implement Social Distancing measures as it is the Key to stop and prevent the spread of Covid-19 from those who are infected to those who are not infected. The intervention includes remaining out of crowded settings, avoiding mass gatherings, and maintaining distance (approximately 6 feet or 2 meters) from others when possible.

Further, the Government has appealed people to not panic and take care of health and protect others.

“Public in general is therefore advised to avoid un-necessary travel & use of public transport; avoid crowded places and large gatherings, do not spit in public. People must take basic precautions for personal hygiene; frequent hand washing with soap & water; and observing coughing & sneezing etiquettes,” the Government advisory added.

The advisory also calls upon the general public to strictly follow the advisories issued by the Government from time to time and rely only on the information released by the government in this regard through the daily media bulletin to print and electronic media. Furthermore, people are advised to refrain from spreading rumours and pay no heed to them at the same time.(With Inputs From UNI)

Srinagar: In the light of Islamic teachings and as  is a precedent in Islamic history during such times , Anjuman Auqaf Jamia  Masjid  has urged people to offer namaz at home, as the corona virus pandemic is spreading fast. The Anjuman has already suspended all congregational prayers at Jamia Masjid in old city here for the time being.

In a statement the Auqaf said as the world battles Covid 19, Muslim communities around the globe like others, are also carefully considering how best to continue with our religious activities, while trying to minimise the spread of the coronavirus. With the increasing rate of transmission, the number of deaths, and limited medical facilities available, all Islamic scholarly and medical advice points towards the curtailment of social contact as the key towards reducing the spread.

Hence, it is our public duty as Muslims to protect one another from harm, and it is evident the most effective way to do this now is to avoid social contact as much as possible. This includes in all walks of life, whether social, work or the mosques. It has become imperative that this extraordinary step is taken to ensure the safety and well being of all as is being done in many Muslim countries.

Anjum Auqaf on behalf of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq who continues to be under house arrest , urgently requests people to undertake these measures needed in such unprecedented times and put our  trust in Allah and his mercy and pray for the safety and protection of mankind in this grave crisis.

‘Form committees to help poor, destitute’

^{Meawnhile, Mutahida Majlis-e-Ulema, an amalgam of various religious bodies in Kashmir and Anjuman-e-Auqaaf Jamia Masjid on Tuesday urged people across Kashmir to form mohalla committees and to collect Baitul Mall(charity) for helping poor and destitute in the present challenging times.
The MMU and Auqaf urged people to form small groups of youth volunteers in every area who would identify the families who are in dire need of food and other essential commodities.}

^{A spokesman of Mutahida Majlis-e-Ulema (MMU) told KNO the lock-down imposed by the government in a bid to prevent spread of pandemic Covid-19 has triggered  a crisis in Kashmir as a large chunk of people including labourers, orphans, widows and other downtrodden people are in a dire need of monetary support and other essential things needed to survive.}

^{“We request people across the Valley to form small groups of youth volunteers under the patronage of area/village elders  to identify  the needy and help them by raising Baitul-Maal on daily basis,” he said.}

^{Similar views were expressed by the spokesman of Anjuman-e-Auqaaf Jamia Masjid Srinagar who stated that in the present challenging times, there is a need of taking care of poor and needy. ” In Kashmir there are hundreds of families who are in need and may be on the verge of starvation.}

^{Jammu: Director General of Police J&K Dilbag Singh chaired a high level meeting of senior officers here on Tuesday and took stock of present ground situation in view of the outbreak of COVID-19.
A police spokesman said that the meeting was attended by ADGsP B Srinivas, A K Choudhary, Deepak Kumar, S JM Gillani, A G Mir, IGsP  T. Namgyal, Mukesh Singh, M K Sinha, Danesh Rana, Gareeb Dass, Alok Kumar, Anand Jain, SSP Jammu Shridhar Patil and  AIsG of PHQ.}

^{Officers who participated in the meeting via video conferencing included IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar, all district SSsP of Kashmir and Jammu zone, all Commandants of Jammu and Kashmir Armed/IRP Battalions and Medical Superintendent Police Hospital Srinagar Dr Bilal Ahmad.}

^{The DGP appreciated the role of Police officers and jawans who are first responders to tackle the ground situation in view of Coronavirus said that all personnel need to be very careful in handling the current situation.
He said that the Jammu and Kashmir Police along with other security forces have contributed in a big way in handling tougher situations and added that together with the cooperation of people of Jammu and Kashmir we will succeed in the mission of containing the spread of this disease too but warned the officers and jawans on duty to be careful about their own safety.}

^{The DGP said that the Do’s and Don’ts which have been circulated to each district and unit must be followed strictly. He said that the necessary arrangements and procedures, precautions must be followed in all the units of the J&K Police and added that those police personnel or their relatives who have international travel history must come forward for self-isolation.}

^{The DGP directed the officers to use the community policing and alert the general public about the virus. He said that people’s cooperation is important in handling the current situation. He said Police personnel who are on guard duties at quarantine centers or on escort duties must be briefed on daily basis and well protected taking all precautions. He emphasized that full support be extended to health department and other authorities working on ground.}

^{During the meeting the senior officers gave briefing about the preparations, precautions made by their wings and units with regard to COVID-19 pandemic in their respective wings and offices.}