PM Modi to address nation at 8 pm, economic stimulus package expected

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to address the nation at 8 pm on Tuesday (May 12), the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has said. It is widely speculated that the PM would cover two important aspects – the lockdown and an economic stimulus package.

Stimulus package

Sources in the know said the details of the package would be made public by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on May 13. Sources quoted Union Minister for Road, Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari as saying that the micro, small, and medium enterprises (SMEs) would be the major beneficiary.

Also, the states had been seeking economic revival packages and more financial aid to come out of the slump situation.

Lockdown, allied issues 

The PM’s address comes after the meeting he had with the Chief Ministers of all states on Monday. The PM is expected to make announcements on the lockdown as he had sought the views of the CMS during the meeting. Reports said the PM would extend the lockdown but in a more diluted manner by incorporating an array of exceptions.

The PM would also list out the preparations made by the Centre as more people would venture out to the roads and public places.

This will be the PM’s third address after the COVID pandemic outbreak forced the Centre to announce a lockdown in late March. The last time the Prime Minister addressed the nation was on April 14.

Currently, the death toll due to COVID-19 across the nation stands at 2,293 and the number of cases climbed to 70,756 in the country on May 12, registering an increase of 87 fatalities and 3,604 cases in the last 24 hours since Monday 8 am, according to the Union Health Ministry.

The number of active COVID-19 cases in the country stood at 46,008, while 22,454 people have recovered and one patient has migrated, the ministry said.