Actor Swwapnil Joshi is glad that most Indians are taking the lockdown imposed by the government to combat the spread of the coronavirus pandemic seriously.
“I would like to congratulate all those who are abiding by the rules," the popular Marathi film actor said in a conversation with Cinestaan.com. "Majority of them are doing that and also doing their best to live by the book.”
At the same time, he expressed shock that some people are still not taking the threat seriously. “It appals me to see that some people are not just breaking the rules but are actually taking pride in it," Joshi remarked. "They have this whole callous attitude like ‘nothing will happen to me’. Why do they not understand that they are not only risking their own lives, but also those of hundreds of others with whom they will be connecting, beginning with their loved ones?
“There is a reason why the prime minister, our chief minister, other ministers and bureaucrats are pleading, requesting, appealing, shouting and asking us to stay at home. That is the only known medicine to fight this virus right now. Everything else is speculation,” he said.
Joshi’s comments come at a time when reports of crowds thronging various religious events have emerged.
There have also been reports of the police beating up those who venture out of their houses. But Joshi believes the lawmen are left with little choice. “I saw some videos where the police are beating people," he said. "But what option have we left them [with]? They are more prone to risk because they are on the streets. If we can’t even be respectful to them, then what are we doing?
"I just want to give [those defying the lockdown] roses in Munna Bhai style and say, ‘Get well soon’,” he said.
Last month, Joshi and other Marathi film stars had come together (though not in person) to list out the dos and don'ts to combat the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.