Lockdown may be lifted in phases

PM compares situation to ‘social emergency’ as 80% Oppn favours curbs beyond April 14

THE PRIME MINISTER said all state governments and several experts have advised him not to lift the lockdown immediately.

HE SAID consensus was against lifting the lockdown

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a meeting with chief ministers on Saturday, April 11, and after this may deliberate with his Cabinet colleagues prior to taking a final call on easing the 21day lockdown, due to end on April 14, in a phased manner, as most political parties with whom he deliberated on Wednesday wanted it extended, saying it would not be advisable to lift it immediately. However, they left the decision to the Centre.

Sources said during the four-hour all-party meeting, where he described the current situation as akin to a “social emergency”, which need drastic changes in people’s lifestyles in a post-coronavirus world, Mr Modi said all state governments and several experts have advised him not to lift the lockdown immediately.

“Nobody is giving inputs on lifting the lockdown immediately, and the consensus which seems to be building is that doing so isn’t advisable and social distancing norms must be followed strictly,” Mr Modi told the leaders.

The Prime Minister, however, indicated he would hold discussions with the CMs again on the issue, with official sources saying the meeting will be held on April 11.

After this, the Centre may take a final call.

At the meeting, while around 80 per cent of Opposition parties were in favour of extending the lockdown, they also sought financial relief and demanded that the MPLADS fund should be restored.

Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad said he appealed to the PM to accept the suggestions in the letter sent to him by Congress president Sonia Gandhi that health workers and hospital staff be provided with Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) on priority. Also, testing should be made free and its capacity should be tripled. He also demanded that a targeted and sector-wise plan should be rolled out which would take into account physical distancing.

The Congress said the task force formed by the Centre should include the chief ministers and demanded that MPLADs funds be used in the states where the MPs are from.

NCP supremo Sharad Pawar, who favoured an easing of the lockdown, said the Tablighi Jamaat incident should not be communalised, though what happened was a mistake. He added: “The media and social media should play a more proactive role, and avoid avoid actions that can lead to spreading hatred.”

Senior Trinamul Congress leader Sudip Bandopadhyay demanded the restoration of MPLADS and a relief package for West Bengal.