The signs of economic distress are obvious. It’s the city`s oldest “big hotel”, and at 4 pm on a weekday, with offices and markets nearby, the restaurant of Hotel Rajhans is empty. There are only two waiters, both watching Prime Minister Narendra Modi announce more free ration for the poor. As the speech ends, the overwhelming feeling is of relief — and a little disappointment. Relief, says Sonu Kumar, one of the two waiters, because “he did not announce another lockdown”. And disappointment, because he was waiting for the Prime Minister to tell the country about what was happening on the border with China. “I don`t mean a ban on goods, because that would mean more losses, but he...
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