NewsGate Press Network

It is decided now  – the countrywide lockdown is being extended till the end of April month i.e. for two more weeks.

This was in one voice a consensus that emerged after a three hour long video conference meeting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi held with chief ministers on Saturday, 11 April 2020.

Soon after the meeting, chief ministers from West Bengal, Delhi, Maharashtra and Telangana announced decisions to extend lockdown in their respective states till 30 April 2020.

Similar announcements were made from Haryana and Uttrakhand.

On Friday, Punjab had followed Odisha by extending the lockdown.

In Punjab they are calling it ‘curfew period’ with far stricter measures imposed  than the rest of the country.

Saturday’s video conference was the third such interaction of the Prime Minister with the Chief Ministers on CoronaVirus crisis.

A spokesperson for the Government stated that ‘today’s tele-con was primarily to take CMs feedback on whether 21-day nation-wide lockdown be extended beyond April 14th.

An official release issued by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) later in the day gave away more than many hints of what life would be beyond the lockdown period.

Key takeaways from PM’s remarks that could make few headlines in the days to come:

  • Two week extension may not be sufficient. PM said: “next 3-4 weeks are critical to determine the impact of steps taken till now”.
  • Aarogya Setu app can be used as “e-pass to facilitate movement/travel”. For this to happen expect some announcement in the near future.
  • Attacks on doctors and health workers and incidences of misbehaviour with students from the North East to be dealt very sternly. PM hinted harsh measures to check such ugly attacks.
  • On-line trading or sale of farm produce to be encouraged. For this APMC laws will be changed (announcement to be made soon in this regard).

After the marathon tele-conference, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman held a close door meeting with top officials apparently to draft a fresh package for economic revival.

According to sources at the North Block, Finance Minister may announce these new measures before the present three-week long shutdown period expires on 14 April 2020.

The interaction was also attended by Union Home Minister, Defence Minister, Health Minister, Principal Secretary, Cabinet Secretary and other senior officials of Government of India.