Modi, CMs Brainstorm Over Lockdown 3.0: Plan Exit But Stay Vigilant, Pm Tells CMs

Many states push for extension or a staggered exit from the lockdown Modi seeks area-wise plans based on Covid-19 curve, decision by May 3

- Rahul Shrivastava

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has less than a week — lockdown 2.0 ends on May 3 — to script the road ahead for the country.

And his task has been made difficult by the multiplicity of challenges he faces: many chief ministers who were part of a virtual meeting with him on Monday favoured lockdown extension, the precarious state of the economy and the hardships being faced by the disadvantaged sections of society.

PM Modi has to take a tough call: whether strict curbs can continue at the cost of economic activity or lockdown 3.0 will be smart with restriction levels varying with risk assessments.

He is understood to have conveyed to chief ministers that importance has to be given to the economy even as the nation fights coronavirus.

In his fourth video conference meeting since March 22 when he first spoke to chief ministers on the pandemic, PM Modi underlined the significance for the states to enforce prescribed guidelines strictly in hotspots.

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Top government sources made one point clear that the restrictions and social distancing protocols are not going to be summarily lifted after May 3.

A senior minister said that given the ground situation and the demand of the CMs, an extension of a short duration seems to be coming.

But it’s becoming increasingly clear that the next step after May 3 will be dictated by the states with the Centre playing the role of a facilitator and coordinator.

A senior official said that this would be in sharp departure from lockdown 1.0 when the Centre piloted the lockdown and the states were made to follow it. However, PM Modi is expected to take a call closer to the end of lockdown 2.0