In the fifth meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and state Chief Ministers to discuss the post-lockdown strategy, five states — including Punjab and Assam — have sought for an extension of the lockdown.
While PM Modi assured them that the Centre is looking into ways to open up the economy. “Slowly but surely, economic activities have begun to pick up in several parts of the country. In coming days, this process will further gather steam. We must realize that fight against Covid-19 has to be more focused now,” news agency ANI quoted PM Modi as saying in the meeting.
He also asked the states to send their views in writing on health, the opening of schools and colleges, tourism and reclassification of coronavirus-hit zones, pointing out that it will take some time to get a vaccine.
Here what CMs said on lockdown in the video 6 hour-long conference
Maharashtra
Lockdown shouldn’t be lifted; regulate it and allow relaxation, Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray said. He also requested the Centre to allow local trains to operate despite a lockdown to curb the outbreak of novel coronavirus.
Punjab
Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh pitched for extension of the lockdown but with a carefully crafted strategy, backed by fiscal and economic empowerment of the states, to save lives and secure livelihood.
He said that states need to be given greater flexibility in micro-planning as part of a carefully planned exit strategy, encompassing both COVID-19 containment and a defined path of economic revival
Bihar
“We will agree with whatever decision the Central Government takes on lockdown but our advice is to extend the lockdown till the end of May,” said Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
Telangana
Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to resume the passenger train services, which were stopped as part of preventive measures to contain the spread of coronavirus in the country
Kerala
States face different challenges and therefore should be given the freedom to make reasonable changes to the guidelines relating to the lockdown. Metro rail service should be allowed in cities other than those in red zone, subject to restrictions: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan
States face different challenges & therefore should be given the freedom to make reasonable changes to the guidelines relating to the lockdown: Kerala Chief Minister @vijayanpinarayi during video conference with PM Narendra Modi today #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/iKt1lmNk5W
— NewsMobile (@NewsMobileIndia) May 11, 2020
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Delhi
Economic activities should be allowed to resume in all parts of Delhi except containment zones: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal
Economic activities should be allowed to resume in all parts of Delhi except containment zones: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal during video conference meet with PM Modi today #COVID19 @PMOIndia @ArvindKejriwal pic.twitter.com/pvu7WZnQGk
— NewsMobile (@NewsMobileIndia) May 11, 2020
West Bengal
Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee reportedly lashed out at the Centre saying, “This is not the time to do politics, don’t bulldoze the federal structure.”
“When the government of India has opened almost everything including the opening of land borders, starting trains & opening airports, then what is the point in continuing with the further lockdown,” she added.
Tamil Nadu
As positive cases in Chennai are showing an increasing trend, don’t permit train service up to May 31 in Tamil Nadu. I request you not to begin regular Air services till May 31: Tamil Nadu CM Edappadi K Palaniswami
Andhra Pradesh
On the other hand, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy said it was important to reopen agricultural markets, public transport, markets and shopping malls with some SOPs to prevent infections. “Normalcy will revive the economy,” Jagan Reddy reportedly said.
Chhattisgarh
State governments should get the right to take decisions on handling of economic activities within their states. They should also get the responsibility to declare red, green & orange zones. Regular train, air travel, and inter-state bus services should resume after consulting state governments: Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel
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