Modi's all-party meets digitally as India to decide on lockdown
India has recorded 149 deaths linked to coronavirus, with 35 in the last 24 hours - the biggest jump so far
As a part of a series of meetings over the past few days Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi today held an all-party meeting via videoconference to discuss the states' strategy to fight against coronavirus as the number of cases in the country climbed to 5,194.
The government will take a final call on the lockdown after PM Modi's second meeting with Chief Ministers via video conference on Saturday, as many states have requested an extension of the 21-day lockdown announced by Modi on March 24 that is to end on April 14, NDTV reported.
Congress's Ghulam Nabi Azad, Trinamool Congress leader Sudip Bandyopadhyay, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut, Samajwadi Party's Ram Gopal Yadav, BSP leader SC Mishra, Lok Janshakti Party's Chirag Paswan, NCP chief Sharad Pawar and DMK leader TR Baalu were among those who joined the video-con.
India has recorded 149 deaths linked to coronavirus, with 35 in the last 24 hours - the biggest jump so far.
Sources say the government is considering the requests to continue the lockdown, however, with the impact on the economy in focus, the restrictions may be lifted in grades.
A Group of Ministers has suggested that schools, colleges and religious centres remain shut for more weeks. Public transport may also remain largely shut.
Last week, the Prime Minister had reached out to opposition leaders including Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, and had asked for suggestions in India's efforts to check the rapid spread of coronavirus and tackling the fallout. He also spoke with former presidents Pratibha Patil and Pranab Mukherjee and former prime ministers Manmohan Singh and HD Deve Gowda.