PM Modi tells BJP MPs to help people fight Covid-19

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi directed BJP MPs to make a sincere effort at educating people and taking appropriate steps to control the spread of Covid-19 in their constituencies, even as he underlined that they should refrain from seeking publicity through social media and by “writing letters and leaking them to the press”.

Speaking at the weekly BJP parliamentary party meeting on Tuesday, Modi praised the efforts of doctors and medical fraternity in controlling the spread of virus in the country. He also lauded the efforts of the print and electronic media in creating awareness about the steps that should be taken to combat the pandemic.

“Modi has asked BJP MPs to spend their weekend in their respective constituencies or state to inform people about Covid-19 and the precautions that should be taken. They should also felicitate doctors and medics who have done a commendable job in their area,” a BJP MP said.


The PM also set at rest reports that the budget session may be curtailed, saying the MPs should be clear that it will continue till April 3, the date on which the session is scheduled to end.

Modi said BJP MPs should not try to seek publicity on Covid-19 and make a genuine effort to help the people. Without naming any MP, he said some leaders have the habit of writing a letter to him or any authority and leaking them on social media or to the press to gain publicity. This habit should be shunned, he warned. A senior BJP MP had recently written a letter suggesting that the session be curtailed in view of the Covid-19 threat. He had also leaked it on social media. Health minister Harsh Vardhan made a slide presentation on Covid-19 for the MPs.

Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman spoke on the Yes Bank crisis. Sources said she told the MPs that the government had been watching the bank’s functioning since 2018 and had warned its officials about the looming threat. She also slammed the erstwhile UPA-II government for the mess in the banking sector and questioned some of the steps taken by it that strangled loss-making companies and also led to huge losses to the national banks.