Published 19:12 IST, April 5th 2020
Deve Gowda assures support to PM Modi on COVID-19 crisis; says 'coming weeks are crucial'
In a telephonic conversation on Sunday, JDS supremo HD Deve Gowda extended his support to PM Modi in India's fight against the novel coronavirus crisis.
Talking about his telephonic conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, JDS supremo HD Deve Gowda revealed that the former had sought his support in the fight against COVID-19. According to Deve Gowda, the PM praised his administrative experience. Subsequently, the former PM pledged his support to PM Modi citing that the novel coronavirus had devastated the entire world resulting in thousands of deaths. Moreover, Deve Gowda asserted that the upcoming few weeks were crucial in determining the success of India's fight against the novel coronavirus. Presently, there are 3374 confirmed novel coronavirus cases in India out of which 277 people have recovered while 77 individuals have lost their lives.
Earlier in the day, PM Modi reached out to leaders of major political parties to discuss the COVID-19 crisis. This included key opposition leaders such as Sonia Gandhi, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Akhilesh Yadav, Mamata Banerjee, Naveen Patnaik, K Chandrashekar Rao, and MK Stalin. Additionally, he also had a conversation with former Presidents Pranab Mukherjee and Pratibha Patil and former PM Dr.Manmohan Singh regarding the current situation.
Kumaraswamy takes a dig at PM's '9 pm- 9 minutes' appeal
Meanwhile, Deve Gowda's son and former Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy took a dig at the PM's appeal for lighting a lamp at 9 pm on April 5. Claiming that this was linked to the BJP foundation day, he remarked that it was shameful to convert the national crisis into an event of self-aggrandizement. Furthermore, he lamented that the Union government was yet to provide personal protective equipment for doctors and make test kits affordable for people.
Updated 19:12 IST, April 5th 2020