Coronavirus: Amit Shah speaks to CMs, seeks inputs on extension of lockdown

By Team Newsable | First Published May 29, 2020, 9:59 AM IST

Union home minister Amit Shah wanted to know whether the lockdown should be further extended or not. He heard the apprehensions of different states about further opening up the economy.

New Delhi: As the end of lockdown 4.0 approaches on the midnight of May 31, Union home minister Amit Shah dialled up all chief ministers on Thursday evening, asking them about on the way forward and elicited their views on restrictions to be continued and further relaxations they would need.

Officials said Shah heard the views of all the chief ministers, as the ministry of home affairs (MHA) is working on the next set of guidelines to be issued once lockdown 4.0 ends.

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States like West Bengal were initially apprehensive about large scale migrants reaching the state when Shramik trains were started. Haryana on Thursday once again sealed its borders with Delhi. Sources said Shah listened to their views and will convey their inputs to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Also read: Karnataka clarifies no ban on flights from 5 states, requests less air traffic

Before completion of each lockdown, there is generally at least one Prime Minister’s video conference with all state chief ministers. So far, this time around, there has been no such announcements.

The fourth phase of the lockdown ends on May 31.

When lockdown 4.0 kicked in, the MHA had said, “A limited number of activities will continue to remain prohibited throughout the country. These include all domestic and international air travel of passengers.” However, half way through it, Union civil aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri surprised everyone by conditionally restarting domestic flight operations.

Now, the question that confronts both states and Centre is, “What’s next?”

The 21-day nationwide lockdown imposed from March 25 was to end on April 14. However, it was extended to May 3, then to May 17 and subsequently till May 31.

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