India likely to extend lockdown by two weeks

THE nationwide lockdown in India to contain the spread of COVID-19 is likely to be extended beyond April 14 with the government spokesperson on Saturday (11) saying the government is considering a request made by most state chief ministers in this regard during an interaction with prime minister Narendra Modi.

"During the video-conferencing on coronavirus in India with state CMs on Saturday, most states requested the prime minister to extend the lockdown for two more weeks," government's principal spokesperson K S Dhatwalia tweeted.

Meanwhile, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted: "PM has taken correct decision to extend lockdown. Today, India's position is better than many developed countries because we started lockdown early. If it is stopped now, all gains would be lost. To consolidate, it is important to extend it."

The meeting, held via video conferencing, was called by Modi to discuss the situation arising due to the COVID-19 pandemic and to take the feedback of chief ministers  on whether the 21-day shutdown should be extended.

Among others, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh as well as Kejriwal had suggested extension of the national lockdown by at least a fortnight.

The Indian government is understood to have also obtained views on the issue from all the relevant agencies and stakeholders involved in the efforts to contain the spread of the pandemic.

Punjab and Odisha governments earlier this week announced extension of the lockdown beyond April 14 when the current spell of 21-day shutdown ends on April 14.

This is for the second time the prime minister is interacting with the chief ministers via video link after the lockdown was imposed.

During his April 2 interaction with chief ministers, Modi had pitched for a "staggered" exit from the ongoing lockdown.

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.