Coronavirus: Centre considering states' request to extend lockdown by two more weeks

KV Prasad
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, April 11

The central government was considering states governments' request to extend lockdown by two more weeks, government officials said on Saturday.

The development came after a four-hour meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday held through a video-conference with chief ministers.

The interaction with CMs was the second such engagement since March 25 lockdown announced by the Centre.

Modi said even while announcing the lockdown on March 24, he mentioned "Jaan hai to Jahan Hai" (if there is life, world will be there).

At the very beginning, the prime minister said it was imperative to follow lockdown and social distancing protocol to save lives.

“Majority of citizens have understood and discharged their responsibility by staying at home. By following this Mantra all of us are making efforts to save lives,” Modi said.

“Now for a bright, prosperous and healthy future for India it is necessary to keep in mind both aspects, Life and Universe. Every citizen by discharging responsibility in adhering to this and following the directions of government and authorities will strengthen the country's fight against Corona Virus,” he said.

The initial visuals of the meeting showed Modi wearing a white mask during the interaction which was among others attended by chief ministers -- Amarinder Singh (Punjab), Mamata Banerjee (West Bengal), Uddhav Thackeray (Maharashtra), Yogi Adityanath (Uttar Pradesh), Manohar Lal (Haryana),  K Chandrashekhar Rao (Telangana) and Nitish Kumar (Bihar).   

Punjab and Odisha have already announced extending the lockdown beyond April 14 when the current spell of 21-day shutdown across the country ends on Tuesday.

'Interference'

Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy, in a separate video conference, said in the meeting it was mentioned that construction activities could be given relaxation by identifying these in three zones--- Green, Orange and Red. Centre would work out the finer points, he said.

 Addressing the conference organised by AICC, he said West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee raised the issue of "interference by the Governor in her Government's work”.

On his part, the Puducherry chief minister said had he got the opportunity to speak he too would have complained about Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi, who he said behaved similarly in regard to working of his government.

 He also dismissed reports that during her interaction with state party chiefs on Friday, Congress president Sonia Gandhi credited Rahul Gandhi for containment work done in Bhilwara district of Rajasthan.

"My PCC Chief who was a participant said no such statement was made," he said, accusing the BJP of cooking it up.

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