While the 21-day lockdown was announced in the best interest of the countrymen because of the COVID-19 pandemic, veteran India off-spinner reckons the government got the timing of the announcement wrong as the lockdown has also had an adverse effect on the migrant labourers, who have been leaving mega cities in order to reach home.
Even though various state, union territory governments are now arranging for the labourers' welfare, the panic that got set-in triggered a situation that could've been avoided with better planning.
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"I think the situation of the migrant labourers should be kept in mind before making the announcement," ANI quoted the 39-year-old as saying. "They don't have the home to stay, food to eat, and job to earn. The government should have taken care of that and assured them that they will get food and money. But now they want to travel back to their home. It is very disturbing how the things have been handled."
"Nobody has ever thought the condition will become that severe and cities will be locked down," Harbhajan added. "Things changed so rapidly that even the government did not get time to think about them. I hope we have time to take decisions smartly for the safety of the citizens. I understand why people want to go their home because they want to be with their own people."
The turbanator has been spending time at home with his family these days, not thinking about the game at all, for at the moment it seems a "very small thing" compared to the situation the world is facing because of the deadly outbreak.
"Honestly in this time, cricket has not come in my mind in the past 15 days," he said. "Cricket is a very small thing in front of the country. I will be selfish if would be thinking about cricket and IPL."
"Our priority should healthy and fit India. Sports will only take place if we stay safe and healthy. Cricket is not even in my thoughts," Harbhajan added.
"It is time to stay united and try to do whatever little you can do to make this country back on its feet."
The 13th edition of IPL, originally scheduled to kickstart on March 29, was suspended until at least April 15 because of the deadly outbreak.
(Inputs from ANI)
