Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray speaks with Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut
Bombay:
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray cautioned against rushing to lift the coronavirus lockdown, highlighting similar steps taken by Western countries who then scrambled to reimpose restrictions when they realized the virus was still spreading.
In a two-part interview, the first of which was published on Saturday, with Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut for “Saamna” party spokesman, Thackeray also warned residents of Mumbai, where the epidemic seems to be under control, not to let our guard down. , saying “that worries me”.
“This is a war on the COVID-19 virus and wherever countries have removed the lockdown, in one fell swoop they are re-imposing it now – like Australia,” Uddhav Thackeray said.
“Everyone is saying to open and unlock things and the economy is threatened. Yes, I agree. But will these people take responsibility if a lot of people get infected or die? Are you willing to let them go. people die for the economy? ” He asked.
Mr Thackeray then attacked US President Donald Trump, whose handling of the health crisis, in particular his resistance to tighter restrictions, has come under heavy criticism.
“I am not Donald Trump. I cannot see my people suffering in front of my eyes,” he said.
“My goal is to reopen things slowly. I agree that people are tired but I cannot open everything at the same time. We call it a pandemic because no one has a quick fix for it,” he said. he declared, adding, when asked about the places of worship being reopened, that “God is in us”.
I’m not Donald Trump, Uddhav Thackeray said, taking a hit on the US president
Maharashtra is the worst affected state in India with over 3.57 lakh cases, of which 1.44 lakh are active infections and over 13,000 are virus-related deaths.
Mumbai, which has more than 1 lakh case, and Pune, which is approaching 70,000, are both hard hit. However, while infections in Mumbai appear to be decreasing, those in Pune are increasing.
“I don’t want to comment so soon (the COVID-19 situation in Mumbai). If we think it is under control, we will relax. And I am worried about it,” the chief minister told about the city, while also stressing that the containment measures in Dharavi have been so successful that they deserve praise from the WHO.
Mr Thackeray also praised the state’s comprehensive response to the pandemic, which has infected more than 13.36 lakh nationwide and killed more than 31,000 people.
“Maharashtra didn’t need the army’s help. We have built field hospitals and strengthened medical capacity. We have held meetings and worked accordingly. I am proud of my government, ”he said, adding:“ Like China, we have also built hospitals within a 15-year radius. -20 days”.
In his extensive interview, which also covered home haircuts during the lockdown, Mr Thackeray discussed exams for college students in their final year.
“Where possible, we can take final year exams for those who are interested. So either you accept the overall marks or the exams,” he said, referring to an alternative system for passing. students instead of exams.
Maharashtra, like Delhi, has canceled final year exams for public institutions. Central colleges will have their exams in September – a decision that Yuva Sena, the youth wing of Mr Thackeray’s Shiv Sena, has challenged in the Supreme Court under the leadership of his son and cabinet minister Aaditya Thackeray.
Mr Thackeray also touched on political points in his interview, downplaying any discussion of a rift between his party and the ideologically disparate Congress and NCP, with which the Shiv Sena is in a three-way alliance to rule Maharashtra.
“I run this government, but it is a tripartite government and even the independents are with us. Most importantly, the public is with us. So it is everyone’s government,” he said.
“I am happy that people trust me and cooperate with me. It gives me strength,” Thackeray added.
On a question about coronavirus vaccine trials, the chief minister said he hoped a vaccine could be developed in India by the end of this year.
COVAXIN, the first locally developed vaccine in India, began human trials on Friday.
The second part of Mr. Thackeray’s interview with Sanjay Raut is expected to be released tomorrow.
