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The Indian response to the Covid-19 pandemic is dictated by a phalanx of largely faceless bureaucrats operating under the overall supervision of Home Minister Amit Shah. The finger on the ‘Enter’ tab, however, is always that of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. So, even if Modi distances himself from the lockdown – as some have alleged after the second extension to the lockdown – he will not be able to escape accountability for lapses and failures.

It was indeed shocking to know that on the day the world was celebrating the May Day, a senior national leader of the saffron parivar smelt of a conspiracy in the workers demand, made just the day after imposition of lockdown, to arrange for their return to their respective villages and native places.

Even as the BJP feels relieved that the protests against the citizenship law ended after the onset of the coronavirus menace, the party continues to perform a delicate balancing act between its innate communalism and opportunistic assertions of being secular. But the claims are apparently of diminishing utility.

The pressure on lockdown-hit central public sector enterprises (PSEs) to finance the government’s growing expenditure on fighting Covid-19 pandemic resulting in large budget deficit is mounting. This is despite the fact that most PSEs are highly financially stressed following the global as well as local economic downturn since last February. The massive fall in crude oil prices with the demand for the commodity suddenly hitting the bottom over the last three months, normally fund-flush oil producers and refiners are in deep distress. The crude oil market crash has spelt havoc on ONGC Limited. ONGC’s average price realisation of USD 22 per barrel in April was not enough to cover even its operating cost. According to Crisil Ratings, Indian oil refiners may make inventory loss of over Rs 25,000 crore in the January-March quarter alone because of a 70 percent fall in crude prices. The gross refining margins are likely to plunge further in the first quarter (April-June) of this financial year due to demand destruction. The oil PSEs are highly worried.

HANOI—Helicopters hovering over rice paddies, burning villages, and the sound of gunfire are the images many older Americans conjure when they hear the word Vietnam. Hollywood provides grist for our imagination about this country. For younger people, if they think of Vietnam at all, their images are those of a poor, developing country or elderly women wearing their nón lá (the traditional conical hat) and bicycling through the countryside.

With the outbreak of the coronavirus, China lost the aura of global supply chain. Eventually, it will lose its grip on ASEAN, which holds a bigger stake in RCEP (ASEAN 10 +6). China deployed economic splurges, in combination with soft and hard power to rein in power in the region. It used trade muscle to make the region over-dependent on it for export led economic growth. It launched BRI (Belt and Road Initiative) to reconnect the region to reduce geographical proximity and increase control in the region.

Despite the hanging on April 12 of Abdul Majed – ex-Bangladesh army captain better known as ‘Mujib killer’ – in a Dhaka prison, people continue to ask probing questions about India’s role in South Asia during the turbulent seventies. This comes as a surprise for foreign policy experts in India, or at least it should. The present climate of opinion prevailing in Bangladesh does not endorse the facile conclusion currently being projected in sections of the Indian media---namely that bilateral relations have been strengthened by the relentless anti-terror drive launched by the Awami League.

Current data seems to indicate that India is entering a safe zone as far as the Covid-19 pandemic is concerned.

Abundance of courage, foresight and ability to achieve the administrative cohesion among various wings are essential ingredients for successful governance in a country like India with a huge population of 1370 milllion. The NaMo government acted with lack of essential understanding and more in fear to deal with the pandemic corona virus that came from outside. The 260 millions strong Indian middle class and economically strong outsiders felt comfortable with imposition of the 21 days lock down on entire India. The decision suddenly announced by the Prime Minister was welcomed by the class with economic strength that did not have to worry much over the cessation of all activities including movements outside their homes but the government had not given thought to the impact on the classes that have to depend on their earnings to have food every day to survive.

Yes, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hasn’t so far given a hint of what he holds for India on May 3. Will Lockdown Phase 2 morph into Lockdown Phase 3? There are no doubts on whether it will be imposed seamlessly, but there are uncertainties if it will be accepted without protests. The queries are gathered at the gates.