The announcement didn’t come as a surprise since the address to the nation was preceded by different state governments making their own announcements and doing the groundwork. People cooped up in small compartments need to be reminded that they are not alone and that they are a part of the national community making a collective sacrifice. It is not that they are detached from the national community or from the aspirations of the ‘balcony’ classes that responded so enthusiastically to Modi’s appeal for demonstrative support. Secondly, there is the more delicate problem posed by groups of people that see themselves as wilfully disengaged from the national community by virtue of their faith. That would be tragic since the very idea of a national community is grounded in solidarity, not hate.

Source: The Telegraph April 15, 2020 18:45 UTC