New Delhi: Prime Minister announced four-hour in advance on 24th March, 2020 bringing the entire Nation, India, under Lockdown for 21 days issuing a guideline on the Corona Virus pandemic, disaster. This Prime Minister ordered was released on the basis of Disaster Management Act (DMA). This ordered was signed by the Union Home Secretary on 24th March itself which ordered, “whereas in exercise of the powers under section 6 (2)(1) of the Disaster Management Act 2005, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), has issued an Order No. 1-29/2020-PP (Pt.ii) dated 24.03.2020  directed the Ministries/Departments of Government of India, State/Union Territory Governments and State/Union Territory Authorities to take effective measures so as to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the country”. This ordered was signed by the Home Secretary in his capacity as the Chairperson National Executive Committee and issued the guidelines. The Prime Minister who had announced 21 days Lockdown the same day had mentioned no such step to be taken which would interfere with the command of the Constitution of India.

 Interestingly the date on the foot of the Home Secretary’s note has written the date in hand which also deserves attention of the Constitutional defenders if a Home Secretary could declare the Fundamental Rights mentioned in Chapter-III of the Indian Constitution as non-existent. This measure included the shutting of all non-essential government establishments, all commercial and private establishments, industries, transport by air, rail and road, hospitality services, educational institutions, places of worship, political/social gatherings, etc. throughout the country certain exceptions for medical staff, journalists, petrol pumps, essential stores, etc. have been provided for. The district collectors are to the “incident commanders” in each district with no guidelines for the observation of any Fundamental Rights enshrined in Chapter-III of the Indian Constitution. Medical Supplies closed, Hospitals shut for the patient, schools are shut. Prime Minister declared 21 days Lockdown least realization that half of the population of the country is working class/daily wagers and working hundreds/thousands miles away from their homes.

  All most entire Nation stands lockup inside their houses/broken huts mostly those working as a labourers in the capital cities of the country. How could they manage to reach any secured place/homes from the cities to their homes? Janata Curfew just four hours’ time was given to them to arrange their lives and livelihoods in an orderly manner. The chaotic aftermath of the national Lockdown has been evidenced by heart wrenching scenes at railway stations, inter-state bus terminals, state borders, labour markets etc. where scores of people have been subjected to unimaginable sufferings on the roads, while being marooned far away from the sanctuary of their homes. How could estimate 40 million migrant workers in addition to the domestic workers, daily wagers, construction workers could manage to fly back to their homes from Delhi to Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Ahmadabad, Assam or West Bengal or Jammu & Kashmir.

 Prof. Bhim Singh admitted that it was a shocking State of Affairs that he has faced/confronted in life for the first time that he finds himself totally helpless to assist or support or even plead the cases of hundreds of millions wretched of earth. He expressed helplessness to help, assist the young workers/peasants from his own State Jammu & Kashmir. He has dispatched the letters of those from Jammu & Kashmir and other states to the Hon’ble President of India urging the Hon’ble President for his intervention though there is no Presidential rule nor even an emergency declared by the President. He admitted that he has been receiving tremendous encouragement/moral support from many of the senior leaders and educationists which has encouraged him to continue shooting these small notes through his E-mail/whatsapp to the people who matter in India or outside India.

Prof. Bhim Singh said that he has just received a shocking note from some unknown friends from Jaipur (Rajasthan) which says that nearly 50 daily wagers from Basantgarh (Ramnagar) in Jammu have been stuck up in Jaipur besides 15 more working youth have been stuck up in Swasti Newai District Tonk (Rajasthan). These names are being forwarded to the office of the President of India as Jammu & Kashmir under President’s Rule for unknown/unlimited period.

 Prof. Bhim Singh urged the President of India to convene an urgent meeting (if not National Integration meeting as PM has not constituted till date) of at least one representative of every recognized political party, both National & State Parties so that the entire Nation could be involved in the process of fight against Corona Virus. Prof. Bhim Singh also urged the President of India to direct the Prime Minister to rush some trains/public transport from State capitals to the important stations in the North-East, North, South & West of the country so that the starving/helpless millions could be saved from this national disaster. This mission cannot be achieved without involving the suffering millions from all corners of the country.