Amid a surge in online searches about a possible lockdown in India, a claim started circulating on social media suggesting that Narendra Modi hinted at a Covid-style lockdown during his address to Parliament on the ongoing West Asia crisis. However, a closer review of his speeches in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha reveals that the claim is misleading.
The viral ‘lockdown’ claim
Several social media posts and online discussions claimed that Narendra Modi hinted at the possibility of a lockdown while addressing the global impact of the ongoing West Asia conflict. This led to a spike in searches such as “India lockdown again”, “lockdown news”, and “Is lockdown coming back in India?” across the internet.
The speculation further grew after the government announced an all-party meeting to deliberate on the crisis and its potential impact on India’s economy and supply chains.
What did PM Modi actually say?
In his speeches in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha earlier this week, Narendra Modi did mention the Covid-19 pandemic—but only to highlight how the country managed a global crisis.
While addressing Parliament on the impact of the West Asia conflict, he cited India’s experience during the Covid period as an example of navigating disruptions, and stressed the importance of national unity during challenging times.
He urged citizens to remain “prepared and united, just as the country had stood together during the COVID-19 pandemic,” while cautioning that the global disruptions caused by the war could have long-term economic impacts.
“As we can see, the situation surrounding this war is evolving moment by moment. Therefore, I urge my fellow citizens to be ready for every challenge. There is a strong possibility that the adverse effects of this conflict may persist for a long time. However, I assure the people of the country that the government is alert, fully prepared, and working with utmost seriousness on its strategy, taking all necessary decisions,” said Narendra Modi.
However, the term “lockdown” was not mentioned in either of his speeches.
How the confusion spread
The speculation appears to have been fueled by a mix of factors:
- Ongoing disruptions in global supply chains due to the West Asia conflict
- Concerns over oil and gas supplies passing through the Strait of Hormuz
- Reports of LPG restrictions and fuel-saving measures in some countries
- Public memories of the nationwide lockdown during the Covid-19 pandemic
Together, these developments revived fears of pandemic-era restrictions, leading many to assume that the government might be preparing for similar measures.
The current situation
India is not facing any Covid-related emergency that would require a lockdown. The number of active cases remains very low, and the overall public health situation is under control.
Instead, the government’s focus in Parliament has been on addressing the economic and supply-chain fallout of the West Asia conflict, especially disruptions to oil, gas, and fertiliser supplies.
The conclusion
Narendra Modi did not mention any lockdown in his recent Parliament speeches. He referred to the Covid-19 period only to illustrate how the country dealt with past global disruptions through unity and preparedness.