On 22 March 2020, people from all across India came in solidarity to extend their support to medical professionals and all the other people working during the deadly COVID-19 outbreak. During the Janta curfew, citizens flocked to their windows and balconies at 5 pm to applaud and cheer for these superheroes providing essential services.
And, while many people did so by being under self-isolation, others defied the purpose of the curfew by gathering in huge numbers on the streets, reports News18. In the videos, men, women, children, and senior citizens can be seen clapping and playing drums together in large crowds instead of socially distancing themselves to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
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People in Rajasthan took to the streets to beat vessels along with kids:
Thread
Visuals from #RajasthanMen, women , children come out on streets of Jaipur to support unsung heroes of our society
In the backdrop of iconic hawa mahal chant slogans #CoronaBhagao #ThaliBajao #JantaCurfew #JantaCurfewChallenge#Covid_19india #CoronavirusPandemic pic.twitter.com/x7smbL17hD
— Tabeenah Anjum (@TabeenahAnjum) March 22, 2020
2. Similar scenes in Mumbai & Punjab:
https://twitter.com/Roflindian/status/1241705121420992517?s=20
3. People played Garba together on the streets of Gujarat as part of the cheering:
'Go Corona' Masterstroke by Modiji today
Entire India was united today at 5 PM, banging utensils in support of Doctors & Nurses
To chronicle this great moment of history in the middle of a pandemic, making this thread
Pls do share & support with your videos🙏
Corona Garbha 👇 pic.twitter.com/3tQrAK2Irg
— Srivatsa (@srivatsayb) March 22, 2020
4. People from Indore waved the Indian flag as they came on the streets in huge numbers:
Educated #COVIDIOT of Chennai practicing exemplary social distancing to save our doctorspic.twitter.com/glXFGxNKmB
— Srivatsa (@srivatsayb) March 22, 2020
5. There was a large gathering at the Bengaluru airport too:
DM Pilibhit Vaibhav Srivastava and SP Pilibhit Abhishek Dixit leading from the front in the fight against Corona 🙄
— Srivatsa (@srivatsayb) March 22, 2020
6. This defies the purpose of Janta curfew:
Defeating the very purpose of the #JantaCurfew pic.twitter.com/MIMrTluLQg
— ShokholalHaokip (@zaydenpa) March 23, 2020
This is NOT what our PM @narendramodi ji wanted. Don’t they understand what social distancing means? pic.twitter.com/XR0EFMXr7s
— Kiran Mazumdar Shaw (@kiranshaw) March 22, 2020
Many people were furious as individuals didn’t take the Janta curfew seriously and participated in social-gathering instead of being in isolation:
Thank you for sharing how people are practicing stupidity. Can't even listen to our PM's speech fully, is it? He said to clap/bang vessels from home, not on the streets standing close to each other! What is the point of janta curfew then?!
— Tasmin Kurien (@TasminKurien) March 22, 2020
Defeats the whole purpose of lockdown . In five mts the benefits of the whole idea has been destroyed. Even God cannot help us.
— Govardhan. M. (@drmg12) March 22, 2020
🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️ the idea was to show gratitude from your own homes. Not come out in crowds!!!!!
— Shobbha (@Shobbha2) March 22, 2020
Is this some kind of joke?? What is wrong with people? Are they supposed to come out and have fun?
We are treating this with kid gloves. It is going to hit hard if we continue being casual abt it #COVID19outbreak#Covid19India
— Navneet (@Understand_me) March 22, 2020
Actually this is dangerous and defeats the purpose. Plz don't allow people to stand so close to each other.
— Sundeep Bhatera. (@bhasaby) March 22, 2020
These ediotic crowds are putting more strain on healthcare professionals. In case if virus spreads due to this gathering, god will not save.
— King Julian (@inbyheart) March 22, 2020
🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️ What's the point of janta curfew if people come out on streets like that?! 🙄🙄
— Pragya Rathore (@pragsrats) March 22, 2020
After such disheartening incidences, PM Modi urged people to take Coronavirus seriously:
लॉकडाउन को अभी भी कई लोग गंभीरता से नहीं ले रहे हैं। कृपया करके अपने आप को बचाएं, अपने परिवार को बचाएं, निर्देशों का गंभीरता से पालन करें। राज्य सरकारों से मेरा अनुरोध है कि वो नियमों और कानूनों का पालन करवाएं।
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 23, 2020
Not only did their actions defeat the whole purpose of having a nation-wide curfew, but it also put several people at risk of catching the virus. At times like these, when doctors, nurses and medical staff are putting their lives at risk for us, it is important we stay home to help them win the fight against coronavirus. Stay home, stay safe.