Do not delay decision on extension of lockdown: Stalin

‘CMs of Odisha and Punjab have already extended the lockdown’

12/04/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,CHENNAI

DMK president M.K. Stalin on Saturday urged the State government to take a decision on extending the COVID-19 lockdown without any delay so that the people could mentally prepare for it. The present lockdown is due to end on April 14.

In a letter to Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami, he pointed out that the Odisha and Punjab Chief Ministers had already extended the lockdown, and similar views have been put forth by Chief Ministers of various States during the all-party meeting convened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently.

“The country and the State are facing a testing time and we cannot move past it just like that. Every second is a golden period and if the government fails to use it properly it will be subjected to the curse of history,” he said. A copy of his letter was released to the media.

Mr. Stalin described as “contradictory” the reports on community spread of the pandemic by the Centre and the State government. “The increase in the number of people who test positive for COVID-19 every day has caused the fear that the State could enter the third stage. This should be prevented,” he said.

Mr. Stalin said the people could only maintain personal distancing and all other arrangements should be made by the government.