New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that those harassing doctors would face police action. He described on Wednesday those doctors and other health staff at the frontlines of the fight against Covid- 19 as “incarnations of God”.

PM Modi in his address interacting through a video link with the people of his native constituency Varanasi in UP, said a day after he announced a 21-day total lockdown in the country to break the chain of transmission of Covid- 19, which has infected over 610 in India. He also said that those in white coats are the incarnation of God, in this hour of crisis. Doctors and Medical staff are saving lives, putting their own lives in danger. Modi remarked by comparing “The battle of Mahabharata was won in 18 days, the battle of Covid- 19 will be won in 21 days,”.

He felt pain, to a question on the harassment of doctors, nurses and other staff handling Covid- 19 patients. PM in his interaction said that “The doctors, rescue workers who went to Wuhan, Air India and other staff that have helped in operations to get back Indians from various parts of the world… these are our true heroes. We must help them. When I heard reports of them being harassed, I took it very seriously. It is a very grave issue for me. I have already told all state DGPs (police chiefs) to take the strictest action against those harassing them”.

He reminded that on Sunday, during his Janata Curfew or one-day self-quarantine for citizens, everyone came out at 5 pm to applaud those working at the frontlines of the Covid- 19 fight. “You must have seen how the whole country participated extensively in the Janata curfew. And then at exactly 5 o’clock in the evening, how did people from across the country come forward to greet for 5 minutes. There is a sense of respect for all these in the mind of the society. Doctors save lives and we can never repay their debt,” he said.

Modi appeal to all citizens if any such activity is visible somewhere, if you see any ill treatment with the doctor, nurse or medical staff, then you should go there and explain to the people.”To deal with “Covid-19”, one must show “karuna (compassion)”, he said.