Hyderabad: With the third leg of the nationwide coronavirus-induced lockdown coming to an end on May 17, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday held talks with states’ chief ministers via video conferencing to discuss the road ahead. This was the fifth such discussion between PM Modi and state heads since the coronavirus outbreak.
While most states demanded autonomy to decide on the imposition of lockdown, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jaganmohan Reddy sought relaxation of lockdown measures, with strict adherence of personal hygiene protocols, Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to resume the passenger train services as he felt that it would make it difficult to curb the spread of the virus.
Here are some of the suggestions and statements made the chief ministers during the conference:
Allow states to decide on relaxations: Kerala CM
Everything is getting opened up, what's the point of extending lockdown: West Bengal CM
Barring containment zones, economic activities should resume in Delhi: Delhi CM
Give power to states to decide on economic activities; pay wages for 200 days under MGNREGA: Chhattisgarh CM
Lift curbs for inter-state public transport: Goa CM
Lockdown may be extended while securing livelihoods: Punjab CM
Inter-state transport crucial for economic survival: Andhra Pradesh CM
Don't start train, flight services until 31 May; release ₹2000 crore special grant for state: Tamil Nadu CM
Inter-state supply chain should be allowed to function properly: Rajasthan CM
Lockdown should continue in containment zones; don’t resume train services: Telangana CM
Lockdown should be limited to containment zone: Gujarat CM
Show specific, concrete direction on lockdown, states will implement: Maharashtra CM
55,000 state people stranded: Himachal Pradesh CM
Lockdown should continue for two more weeks: Assam CM
Form economic zones on regional basis: Meghalaya CM
Lockdown helped slow COVID-19 spread; need to relook at NE health infra: Arunachal Pradesh CM
Lift lockdown in staggered manner: Manipur CM