Coronavirus: Modi says India in for ‘long war’ as he leads national candle-lit vigil

India’s efforts ‘have set an example before the world in tackling coronavirus’, says Modi

Narendra Modi has said India is facing a “long war” against coronavirus, raising the prospect of an extension of the strick lockdown due to end next week.

The Indian prime minister was addressing members of his Bharatiya Janata Party on its 40th anniversary, in what was effectively his fourth pre-recorded national video message in less than three weeks.

Mr Modi, who has faced criticism over a lockdown that left millions of migrant workers stranded, said India’s early closure of its borders and its ongoing stay-home orders “have set an example before the world in tackling coronavirus”.