TS accepts Modi’s lockdown extension

The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) parliamentary party on Wednesday told Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, that the TRS and the Telangana government extend their full support for an extension of the nationwide lockdown beyond April 15.

TRS leaders, Dr K. Keshava Rao and Nama Nageshwara Rao, during the video conference the Prime Minister had with floor leaders of all political parties in the Rajya Sabha told him that the lockdown is the most effective tool to control the coronavirus outbreak.

While pledging complete support from the party as well the state government to him in the fight against Covid-19, they said that they demanded that the centre must de-centralise both funds and operations dispensing them to the statesrather than keeping them consolidated.

During the video conference, Dr Keshava Rao said the nation must continue the lockdown even though it comes at enormous costs as there is no alternative.

While admitting that it was best of bad deals, he said, “If the lockdown is relaxed, the situation will worsen, especially in rural areas where there are poor healthcare facilities.”

Dr Rao felt that the reimposition of lockdown after an interval is also not workable, emphasising the need to flatten the curve and slow the spread of disease.

Dr. Rao and Nama Nageshwara Rao asserted, “Preventing spreading of the epidemic must be our priority. We are aware of its adverse impact on our economy which can be dealt with, after we overcome this hurdle. Economic growth should not be prioritised at the cost of human lives.”

They brought to the notice of the PM that due to the lockdown, revenue collections in Telangana had fallen drastically and help from the centre is needed.