As a Naga youth BJP leader, I am proud of what we achieved in lockdown

On March 23, 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi ordered the entire into lockdown from March 25 for 21 days to stop and check the rising curve of COVID-19 cases in the country.

This was an unprecedented step undertaken because of the havoc wreaked by the deadly COVID-19 virus which had originated from Wuhan in China. Not only were lives destroyed but the economy also took a severe beating. India was one of the first countries in the world to announce a nation-wide lockdown. The main emphasis here was on saving lives. As the PM rightly pointed out, the economy can be recovered but lives could not be recovered. No doubt it was a tough measure but it just goes to show the care and commitment PM Modi has for the people of India. And, thus began the era of lockdown across the country. Everyone was affected in one way or the other; especially the poor, needy, homeless, labourers, migrant workers, even students and senior citizens. The challenge lay bare before us. However, wasting no time, in response to the Prime Minister’s clarion call to all karyakartas to selflessly serve the people, the BJYM Nagaland took it upon itself to see to it that affected people in Nagaland should not remain helpless and go to bed hungry

Each BJYM district unit played crucial roles in extending a helping hand to our fellow affected citizens. From food packets to water to edible oil to essential commodities (rice, vegetables etc.) to face masks and sanitisers, we went all the way out to make sure that we would leave no stone unturned. It was a Herculean task. Leaving our families behind at the peak of the pandemic was not an easy thing, especially for us who have kids. But our guiding principle of “Nation first, party second and individual last” helped us stay motivated and determined to serve the people. Dimapur district, in particular, was quite challenging because it is a large district, not to mention the sweltering heat, but we could overcome all challenges. We also distributed food, face masks, sanitisers etc. to our uniformed personnel, as well as other frontline workers. I reserve my warmest salute to all our frontline workers. They had to face a lot of discrimination and unwarranted attacks. In the face of it all, they continued to serve the people without any questions.

As the nation-wide lockdown kept extending, we never wavered from our commitment to serving the people. There is a great sense of satisfaction that comes from serving people. It motivates us even more and more.

In this short but challenging period, we have all learned a lot about so many things, be it hygiene, safety, education, medical facilities etc. For the BJYM Nagaland, the biggest takeaway is a reassertion of the fact that there is no greater joy than serving society.

Many criticisms were hurled at the Modi-led government for the lockdown, but now it’s been proved beyond doubt that it helped save crores of Indian lives. As India limps back to normalcy, I strongly advise my fellow citizens to stay alert and not be complacent. Even as the indigenous COVID-19 vaccines are being administered to crores of citizens across the country, I exhort upon all to receive your vaccine doses. The vaccines are scientifically tested and proved most effective. There is no need for any fear or scepticism. When you get vaccinated, you are not only protecting yourself but also contributing towards a healthier and safer society.

In conclusion, I would also like to express my sincere thanks to our State BJP President Temjen Imna Along, Deputy CM Y Patton, State BJP office bearers, Nagaland BJYM team, party karyakartas, well-wishers and all BJP legislators who sacrificed a lot of everything to help make life a little more tolerable in those trying times. The BJP is a people’s party, and we will always remain in the service of the people and the nation.

(Benjamin Yepthomi is the Nagaland State BJYM President. Opinions expressed are his own.)

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