Lockdown has yielded positive results, says PM; States want extension with relaxations
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As India enters final week of the lockdown, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday conveyed to chief ministers that the country will have to give importance to the economy as well as to continue the fight against coronavirus.
The extension of lockdown in the country was discussed in the video-conference between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Ministers of nine states on Monday.
Coronavirus cases in India rise to 27,892 with 872 deaths | click for state-wise status
PM Modi assured the states that the economy is in good shape and there is no need to worry.
The chief ministers who attended the meeting included Arvind Kejriwal (Delhi), Uddhav Thackeray (Maharashtra), E K Palaniswami (Tamil Nadu), Conrad Sangma (Meghalaya) Trivendra Singh Rawat (Uttarakhand) and Yogi Adityanath (Uttar Pradesh).
According to the reports more than seven states have asked for lockdown extension. Few CMs wanted lockdown should be eased in non-corona zones and economic activities be allowed.
Odisha has requested for one more month of lockdown and Bihar has asked more PPE kits.
"I have demanded that lockdown should continue otherwise we can't face these things in Odisha. Let it be one month more, then, we will see what is going on," Odisha Health Minister Naba Das, who was present along with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at the video conference, said.
This was the fourth such interaction since March 22 when he first spoke to them on the pandemic, Modi also highlighted the importance for states to enforce prescribed guidelines strictly in the coronavirus hotspots zones, the government said in a statement.
What PM Modi said in the meeting?
- Lockdown has yielded positive results, the country has managed to save thousands of lives in the past 1.5 months.
- Our aim must be the rapid response, need to follow the mantra of ‘do gaz doori’.
- PM said that efforts of states should be directed towards converting the red zones into orange and thereafter to green zones.
- We have to be brave and bring in reforms that touch the lives of common citizens.
- We have to give importance to the economy as well as continue the fight against covid-19.
- Impact of coronavirus will remain visible in the coming months, masks and face covers will be part of our life.
- CMs provide feedback, suggest measures to meet economic challenges and boost health infrastructure.
Today's meeting comes just a week ahead of the scheduled ending of the nationwide lockdown. On March 24, the Prime Minister had announced a 21-day lockdown as a precautionary measure to contain the spread of COVID-19. The lockdown was later extended till May 3.
(With inputs from agencies)