Chidambaram backs lockdown, says PM Modi is commander in Covid-19 battle

P Chidambaram, the former finance minister who was among the first to advocate a nationwide lockdown to stop the coronavirus disease from spreading, on Wednesday tweeted a 10-point plan for the government to put money in the hands of the poor during the 21-day lockdown announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Chidambaram had last week pitched the lockdown as one way to slow down the spread of Sars-CoV-2 pathogen that causes the coronavirus disease. That was hours before PM Modi appeared on national television last week to speak on the challenge ahead.

After PM Modi announced the 21-day lockdown, Chidambaram had responded with a short tweet on the emotions his speech evoked: “relief, vindication, frustration, disappointment, worry, fear etc”.