Who said what? In meet with PM Modi, states prefer 'extended' lockdown, phased exit

In a meeting with chief ministers on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the country will have to give importance to the economy as well as continue the fight against the novel coronavirus. In a video conference with the chief ministers, the fourth such interaction since March 22 when he first spoke to them on the pandemic, Modi also highlighted the importance for states to enforce prescribed guidelines strictly in the coronavirus hotspots. After May 3, by all indications, a partial lockdown could be on the cards.

Modi also said that masks and face covers will become part of lives of people in the days ahead, adding everyone's aim must be to ensure rapid response under the current circumstances. He emphasised on the importance of the use of technology as much as possible, and also to utilise the time to embrace reform measures. The prime minister said at the virtual meeting that India's population is comparable to that of the combined population of several countries. "The situation in many countries, including India, was almost similar at the start of March. However, due to timely measures, India has been able to protect many people."

He also urged the chief ministers to factor in the changes in weather—advent of summer and monsoon—and the illnesses that can potentially come in this season, while strategising ahead.

The chief ministers, in response, highlighted their many concerns including the lifting of the curbs, welfare of migrant workers and financial packages. 

What different chief ministers had to say:

Ashok Gehlot (Rajasthan):

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Monday forwarded a 15-point suggestion, including a grant of Rs 1 lakh crore to states. The state is now preparing for the return of migrant workers stuck in other states due to the lockdown. Gehlot appealed to the people of the state to extend all help and give moral support to those returning home after "a very hard period". The Rajasthan government has deputed teams of senior officers to coordinate with other states on the return of migrants. He requested the prime minister that the the 25 per cent limit of procurement on minimum support price should be raised to 50 per cent (of the produce) to help farmers. For the revival of industries, the Centre should announce incentives to boost trade, he said.

V. Narayanasamy (Puducherry):

Puducherry Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy said a majority of the CMs wanted the lockdown to continue after May 3, and asked the PM to adopt a cautious approach while opening it. "Most chief ministers told the prime minister that the lockdown should continue and that some economic activity should be started slowly. He said the chief ministers were unanimous in telling the prime minister that the way the coronavirus is spreading in the country and cases are rising, there should be a cautious approach in opening the lockdown, and the prime minister should take a call on what needs to be done.

Hemant Soren (Jharkhand):

Jharkhand announced it will not implement till May 3 the Centre's guidelines giving relaxations to some shops due to a sudden spurt in COVID-19 cases. Chief Minister Hemant Soren said the borders of Ranchi would be sealed to contain the spread of the virus. He also urged PM Modi for central support in bringing back students and migrants from the state who are stranded in different parts of the country due to coronavirus-triggered lockdown. In a letter, a copy of which is released to the media, Soren said, in the wake of some states engaging in inter-state movement of students with mutual consent, the Jharkhand government was facing pressure from the guardians of the students, relatives of the migrant workers and intellectuals to bring them back. There is a bar on inter-state movement as per the April 15 directive of the Union Home Ministry. Jharkhand does not want to violate the directive, Soren wrote in the letter. Jharkhand will not to implement till May 3 the Centre's guidelines giving relaxations to some shops due to a sudden spurt in COVID-19 cases. 

Pinarayi Vijayan (Kerala):

The Kerala government favoured 'partial' coronovirus lockdown in the state till May 15 and sought a special financial package from the Centre for various sectors, including rehabilitation of expatriates who wish to return. Conveying the state's views to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, CM Pinarayi Vijayan has informed that Kerala would have a cautious approach on lifting the curbs after May 3 and would favour having a partial lockdown till May 15. The state favoured continuation of restrictions on inter-state and inter-district travel and the ban on public transport till the middle of next month, he told reporters. In a telephonic conversation with Shah, he suggested a national policy on lockdown that also caters to state-specific and regional needs. The state would prefer having a partial lockdown till May 15 and then review the lockdown based on the COVID-19 situation then. The state is of the opinion that, in districts where no cases are reported in the previous week, relaxations on public movement and public transport can be partially allowed by adhering to all safety precautions.

Arvind Kejriwal (Delhi):

The Delhi government said it will follow the Centre's guidelines on whether to extend the lockdown or not. Kejriwal had earlier said that, as the prime minister announced the nationwide lockdown till May 3, there was a need to see what decision the Union government took on it. "We will decide our future course of action and set our direction once the Centre takes decision on whether ongoing lockdown be extended or not," he had said. "If we follow lockdown rules, we can get rid of coronavirus," Kejriwal had asserted. Last week, S.K. Sarin, the chairman of the Delhi government panel to combat COVID-19, had suggested extending the lockdown till May 16 for the epidemic curve to flatten.

Conrad Sangma (Meghalaya)

Meghalaya wants the lockdown in the state to continue beyond May 3 to stem the spread of COVID-19, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said after the tele-conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The chief minister, however, said some relaxations will be introduced in green zones and non-COVID-19 affected districts after the nationwide shutdown has been lifted. Meghalaya has so far reported 12 COVID-19 positive cases of which 11 are active and one person has died. Two districts have been classified as red zones. Sangma suggested to the prime minister that the Meghalaya model of "Rapid Response System", where the health department, general administration and police respond in unison within a specified time for detection of the new COVID-19 cases, be adopted elsewhere too.

Vijay Rupani (Gujarat):

Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani favoured a gradual lifting of the coronavirus-enforced nationwide lockdown. Rupani maintained that interests of daily wage labourers, small as well as big shop owners and self-earning people should be kept in mind if the lockdown is extended beyond May 3, he said. "Lockdown needs to be gradually lifted. The state will follow the Centre's guidelines and lift the lockdown in a gradual and step-by-step manner, depending on the number of [COVID-19] cases going down [in different areas]". Gujarat, with 3,301 novel coronavirus cases and 151 deaths so far, is second only to Maharashtra on both counts in the country.

Shivraj Singh Chouhan (Madhya Pradesh):

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, after his interaction, asked state officials to make specific plans for a post-May 3 scenario, when the coronavirus-enforced lockdown is scheduled to end. Chouhan directed the officials to prepare models for the days to come, and told them that further action will be suggested after detailed instructions on issues are received from the Centre. Madhya Pradesh has so far reported 2,090 coronavirus positive cases with 103 deaths.

Mamata Banerjee (West Bengal)

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday claimed the Centre is making contradictory statements on enforcement of the lockdown, and funds are not being provided to the state for fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. Addressing a press conference after attending a meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi held with chief ministers through video conferencing, Banerjee said she has a "hunch from PM's body language" that the lockdown may continue beyond May 3. However, there was no confirmation. "The Centre is making conflicting statements on lockdown. There is no clarity. We are in favour of lockdown. But the Centre on one hand emphasises on enforcement of the lockdown, and on the other hand it issues order to open shops," Banerjee said. "If you open shops, how will you enforce lockdown? I think the Centre should come out with a clarification," she said, maintaining that once the Centre provides greater clarity, the state government would take a call on reopening standalone shops.

Sarbananda Sonowal (Assam)

Assam will allow standalone shops in rural areas, excluding containment zones, to reopen from April 28. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary said the state cabinet met following Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal's video conference with Modi. "It was decided that shops in rural areas in green zones will be allowed to open from tomorrow, but no markets or haats will be permitted," Patowary said.