Web Report
India on Saturday announced the extension of its country-wide lockdown, which was supposed to end on Tuesday.
It is stated that several states have asked the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to extend the nationwide lockdown to deal with the COVID-19 outbreak.
New Delhi state’s chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Saturday that Narendra Modi has decided to extend a nationwide lockdown to tackle the spread of the coronavirus.
Modi earlier in the day held a video conference call with several state ministers. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said Modi had “taken (a) correct decision to extend (the) lockdown”, without sharing further details.
“If it is stopped now, all gains would be lost. To consolidate, it is imp (important) to extend it,” Kejriwal said on Twitter.
India’s 21-day lockdown ends on Tuesday but several states had urged Modi to extend it further, even as concerns have risen that the shutdown has put millions of poor people out of work and forced an exodus of migrant workers from cities to villages.
Earlier on April 9, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a three-and-a-half hour long meeting via video conferencing with Parliament floor leaders of all major political parties over the lockdown situation in the country.
Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) leader Chirag Paswan said that Modi mentioned suggestions he had received over the lockdown and said that almost everyone advocated not lifting the restrictions as of now.
“PM said that suggestions he is getting are for continuing the lockdown. I suggested that whenever lockdown is lifted, it should be in a phased manner. We should keep interstate borders sealed, even entry from one district to another district should be restricted,” said Paswan.
According to the leader, almost all floor leaders suggested that this lockdown should not be lifted in the present situation and should be continued.
While speaking on his suggestion to the PM, Paswan said that many central government scheme beneficiaries are not aware of the free ration they are entitled to get and this needs to be properly advertised.
Almost every floor leader spoke extensively on issues faced by farmers. “The Prime Minister heard everyone carefully and took notes of the suggestions,” said Paswan while mentioning that every leader assured the PM that they will support the decision taken by the government.
