Kejri welcomes ‘PM’s correct decision’

Most CMs At One With Curb Extension

AlokKNMishra@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:12.04.2020

Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal suggested at a video conference with PM Narendra Modi on Saturday that the nationwide lockdown should be extended till April 30. And as a consensus seemed to have emerged on thisissuebetween the CMs attending the interaction with the PM, Kejriwal tweeted welcoming Modi’s “correct decision” to extend the lockdown though no formal announcement had been made by the Centre till late in the night.

The lockdown had started across the country on March 25 and is to remain in force till the midnight of April 14 unless it is extended. It is credited with having checked the speed of coronavirus in the country. Kejriwal also sought funds for Delhi, just like any other state, because the city is handling a greater volume of such cases as compared to many other states and has put many people – among them those who have returned from abroad – in quarantine.

Soon after the video
conferenceconcluded,Kejriwaltweeted: “PM has taken correct decision to extend lockdown. Today, India’s position is better than many developed countries because we started the lockdown early. If it is stopped now, all gains would be lost. To consolidate, it is important to extend it.” He had earlier called for extending the lockdown across the country and not just in a few states. Sources in the CM’s office said that most of the chief ministers had suggested extension of the lockdown.

The CM’s demands for central funds come in the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak, which has taken a heavy toll on tax collection in Delhi amid the need for greater expenditure by the government for distribution of food andensuring socialsecurity. Delhi has been one of the very badly affected regions in the country. Recently, deputy CM Manish Sisodia wrote to Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, pointing out that “the central government provided an emergency disaster management relief assistance worth ₹17,000 crore to all states but Delhi was not given a single rupee.”

Asked whether the Delhi government will extend the lockdown by two weeks even if the central government did not do so, sources in the Delhi government said that decision will be taken by the government at an appropriate time but the discussions at the PM’s video conference have suggested that the lockdown will be extended across the country.

Since the lockdown has affected the livelihood of thousands of people, the Delhi government has arranged distribution of food for over 8 lakh andis providing free ration to71 lakh people whose family have ration cards. Those who don’t haveone are alsobeing given ration.

Electronic passes are being provided to people in Delhi to ensure that the lockdown does not affect the supply of essentialitemslike vegetables, grocery, medicines and milk among other items. Over 12,000 people are staying in shelter homes and schools which are being used to house migrant workers and homeless.

Worst-affected 4 Haryana dists including Gurgaon to fall in red zone, says Khattar

Chandigarh:

Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Saturday said four districts including Gurgaon, which have reported the maximum number of Covid-19 cases, will be declared “red zones”, meaning stricter restrictions will placed in the areas to check the spread of the virus. The four districts — Gurgaon, Faridabad, Nuh and Palwal — account for more than 100 cases out of the over 160 cases reported in the state. Many areas in these districts have already been declared containment zones.

After interacting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a video conference, Khattar said in a televised address this evening that “the indications” from the meeting were that the lockdown is set to increase by two weeks. PTI