Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday held a videoconference with chief ministers to discuss the situation arising due to thecoronavirus pandemic in the country, which has been under a lockdown sinceMarch 25 to contain the spread of the virus, amid indications that theinteraction would also focus on a graded exit from the ongoing lockdown.
This is Modi’s fourth such interaction with state chiefministers since March 22 when he discussed coronavirus situation and stepstaken –both by the Centre and the states– to contain the pandemic. Two dayslater on March 24, Modi announced a 21-day nationwide lockdown. He extended thelockdown by 19 days on April 14, the last day of the initial three weekshutdown, till May 3.
Sources in the government had on Sunday indicated thatbesides discussing the way forward in dealing with the pandemic, the primeministers and chief ministers could also focus on a “graded” exitfrom the lockdown.
In a tweet on Monday, the Prime Minister’s Office said Modiand the chief ministers will be discussing aspects relating to the COVID-19situation.
In his monthly ‘Mann ki Baat’ radio address on Sunday, theprime minister said the country is in the middle of a ‘yudh’ (war) and assertedthat people have to continue being careful and take precautions.
His note of caution came amidst gradual exemptions beinggranted by the Centre and states to revive economic activities.
“I urge you not to get overconfident. You should inyour over-enthusiasm not think that if the coronavirus has not yet reached yourcity, village, street or office, it is not going to reach now. Never make sucha mistake. The experience of the world tells us a lot in this regard,”Modi said while referring to a popular Hindi idiom ‘Sawdhani hati, durghatnaghati’ (disaster strikes when you lower your concentration).
The Centre and the state governments have been givinggradual exemptions to boost economic activities as also to provide relief topeople as some states want further relaxation in areas which have seen few orno coronavirus cases.