On Thursday evening union home minister Amit Shah spoke to all the chief ministers in regards to extending the lockdown. The nation-wide lockdown was imposed on March 25 to break the chain of coronavirus. We are currently in the fourth phase of the lockdown and this phase will be ending on May 31.
Shah, in his call with the chief ministers, discussed the current situation in their respective states and also asked for their views and opinions in regards to extending the lockdown. They also discussed the future strategy that can be adopted to fight the spread of virus.
As per the information that is available most states are in agreement that the lockdown needs to be expended but there are also some relaxations to be offered so that the economic activities can continue. Shah in his conversation with the CMs also took the status of the migrant labourers and other people that have been stuck due to the lockdown. He has made note of all the suggestions and is expected to come out with a decision soon.
Interestingly, till now it was Prime Minister Narendra Modi who would conduct a meeting with the CMs over video conferencing in which he would take the status of each state and ask them to weigh in their opinion in regards to lockdown extension. Amit Shah was always present in these meeting but this is the first time that he has personally called all CMs.
On Friday, Shad had a meeting with the Prime Minister, and in the same, he briefed him about the conversation with all the Chief Ministers. It is believed that all CMs are in favour of extending the lockdown but are also looking at some relaxations that will help the economic activities to continue.
Coming over to the situation in Maharasthra, it is likely that the lockdown will continue in the state giving the rising number of cases. In an earlier address, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray had mentioned that the government is looking at lifting lockdown restrictions after May 31 in a ‘gradual and calibrated manner’ . The reason for the same is that it wants to ensure that people’s safety is secured as economic activities are pursued.
Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray had further added that the lockdown must not be lifted as abruptly as it was imposed which alludes to the four-hour notice provided by the Centre in March when the first phase of nationwide lockdown began. Thackeray, whose party Shiv Sena parted ways with long-term ally BJP last year, said though the Union government has been of little help. He, however, added that would not indulge in any political mudslinging.
Share
Tweet
