CMs Said PM Modi Wants to Restart Economy, But Not at Cost of Coronavirus War, Hotspots to Continue in Lockdown

New Delhi: The lockdown enforced by the Centre to arrest the spread of novel coronavirus in the country will continue in hotspots, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told chief ministers in a video conference on Monday.

PM Modi, who was interacting with the heads of states on the way ahead in the fight against the pandemic, said decision on extending the countrywide lockdown would be taken after May 3, when phase 2 ends. However, relaxations would depend on the situation in individual states and curbs would be lifted in districts that have shown improvement.

Assuring chief ministers on the condition of the economy, PM Modi said there was no reason to worry. Home Minister Amit Shah, who was also part of the meeting, said economic activities could not be stopped forever but norms such as social distancing and face masks would become a part of daily life, not just in urban areas but also rural areas.

Sources aware of the deliberations told News Channel that more reforms were in the pipeline and would soon be announced by the government. The prime minister is likely to meet Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman amid demands to open up few more sectors of medium and small scale.

The chief ministers who attended the meeting included Arvind Kejriwal (Delhi), Uddhav Thackeray (Maharashtra), EK Palaniswami (Tamil Nadu), Conrad Sangma (Meghalaya), Trivendra Singh Rawat (Uttarakhand), Yogi Adityanath (Uttar Pradesh), Mamata Banerjee (West Bengal), Nitish Kumar (Bihar) and Naveen Patnaik (Odisha).

The meeting also saw some chief ministers raise their concerns. For instance, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar asked PM Modi and Shah to formulate a policy for bringing back people to states. Kumar was under fire when his government refused to bring back students stuck in Kota though UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath gave the nod for the move.

Kumar said his decision was keeping in line with MHA guidelines but questioned how other states were allowed to proceed.

Odisha, meanwhile, has sought an extension of the lockdown for another month. State health minister Naba Das told the media that other states had supported Odisha's demand for one month



extension.

This was the fourth video meeting of the leader with the central pastors after the spread of Covid-19 in the nation. 

In his month to month 'Mann ki Baat' radio location on Sunday, the leader said the nation is in a 'yudh' (war) and declared that individuals need to keep being cautious and avoid potential risk. 

His note of alert came against the setting of the Union government and states loosening up lockdown standards to restore monetary exercises. 

"I encourage you not to get arrogant. You ought to in your over-eagerness not feel that if the coronavirus has not yet arrived at your city, town, road or office, it won't arrive at now. Never commit such an error. The experience of the world discloses to us a great deal in such manner," he said. 

Modi alluded to a well known Hindi figure of speech 'Sawdhani hati, durghatna ghati' (mishap happens when alert is brought down) to come to his meaningful conclusion. 

The Center has now permitted neighborhood and independent shops, incorporating those situated in private buildings, in urban zones to open during the lockdown. Be that as it may, those in the business sectors keep on staying shut till May 3. 

In provincial territories, all shops, with the exception of those in shopping centers, are permitted to open. In a late night request on Friday, the Home Ministry likewise said shopping centers keep on staying shut however advertises in rustic territories can open.

However, opening of shops located in COVID-19 hotspot and containment zones, sale of non-essential items by e-commerce platforms and sale of liquor continue to be prohibited.

In the last interaction on April 11, several chief ministers had recommended extension of the 21-day lockdown by two weeks, which was slated to end on April 14 earlier. On April 14, the prime minister had announced that the lockdown is being extended till May 3.

Before the lockdown was announced on March 24, the prime minister had interacted with the chief ministers on March 20 to discuss ways and means to check the spread of the novel coronavirus.