Rajasthan CM bats for phased withdrawal of lockdown

New Delhi, April 7 (IANS) A day after Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao made a strong case for the continuation of the ongoing lockdown, Rajasthan Chief Minister has called for its phased withdrawal.

Calling both lives and livelihood important, Ashok Gehlot said on Tuesday, “After the video conference with PM, I have constituted two task forces as life is important. Another task force to see the lockdown issue which should be exited in a phased manner.”

This balance of life and livelihood has become the central point for all chief ministers, many of whom seem to favour a phased withdrawal of the lockdown.

Contrastingly so, earlier Rao advocated for the extension of the current shutdown saying, “The Centre and all other state governments have lost revenue during the lockdown period. The only positive outcome of this is that we are able to protect our people”.

The Centre on Tuesday also held a meeting of group of ministers at Rajnath Singh’s residence which has not taken any decision on ending the lockdown as yet. The biggest question in front of the government is weighing in two options — loss of livelihood versus loss of life. However, any decision in this regard will come after PM Modi’s interaction with floor leaders and chief Mmnisters where a common exit plan is to be discussed.

India is under a 21-day nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of the deadly coronavirus that has so far infected more than 4400 in India and killed at least 114 people.

–IANS

abn/miz/skp/