PM Modi to interact with CMs tomorrow; likely to extend the lockdown

New Delhi, 10th April: Prime Minister Modi will be interacting with all the Chief Minister’s tomorrow via video conferencing to take their suggestions on whether the lockdown should be extended and to discuss the exit strategy for the lockdown.

PM Modi, in a video meeting with leaders of all parties on Wednesday, had alredy given a hint that lockdown will have to be extended beyond 21 days.

“The priority of the government is to save each and every life. The situation in the country is akin to a ‘social emergency’, it has necessitated tough decisions and we must continue to remain vigilant,” said the PM, according to political leaders who participated in the interaction.

The big question that remains to be answered is whether there will be another nationwide lockdown or will it be imposed only in 75 districts where the virus is concentrated.

Even if the Cabinet does not extends nationwide lockdown, many CMs are set to extend the lockdown in the their respective states. Odisha, yesterday became the first state to extend lockdown till 30th April. Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Rajasthan, Assam, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh are among some other states that have called for a longer lockdown.

PM Modi’s decision to order the three-week lockdown has helped slow the infection rate, foreign ministry additional secretary Vikas Swarup has said, even though it has impacted the economy and thousands of poor workers. Millions of people have lost their jobs, largely those who work on daily wages and have fled to their homes in villages.

As on 10th April, India has 6,412 cases of coronavirus, including 199 deaths.