Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a video call with the chief ministers of all the states and Union Territories on April 27 over the nationwide lockdown and COVID-19 pandemic.
Previously, the Prime Minister has held two such interactions via video conferencing with chief ministers of all states on the COVID-19 situation and lockdown imposed to avert its spread. Hence, this will be the third video meeting via video conference of the prime minister with all the chief ministers of states and Union Territories after the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.
PIB India tweeted,”PM will interact with all CMs by video conferencing on Monday, 27 April morning”.
With the total number of coronavirus cases in India rising to 21,393 and death toll rising to 681, PM Narendra Modi stated that there will be no compromise on the safety of healthcare workers. PM is likely to interact with all chief ministers via video conference on coming Monday to take stock of the infection in the country, ANI reported.
While briefing the press, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar that the Centre will not put up with assaults on the healthcare personnels in the country and affirmed that an ordinance has been brought to make such violence a punishable offence.
Javedkar said,”The government will amend the Epidemics Diseases Act, 1897 to make the attacks on healthcare workers a cognisable and non-bailable offence”. The assailants may be penalized with a jail term of three months to seven years along with a fine of Rs 50,000 to Rs 5 lakh.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has also interacted with a group of doctors and representatives of the Indian Medical Association and admired their good work along with assuring them security.
Sources disclosed that PM Modi will not only speak to the chief ministers but also ask their feedback on the ongoing lockdown.
The Centre will formulate the strategy for the future after receiving the feedback from chief ministers.
The crucial issue which is expected to be raised specifically by chief ministers of non-BJP ruled states is the need for more financial aid from Central Government to combat pandemic. The two chief ministers—Captain Amarinder Singh of Punjab and Bhupesh Baghel of Chhattisgarh already wrote to Modi demanding special financial package and extension of the 15th Finance Commission.
The other issues which can be discussed is the growing problems between union government and chief ministers of West Bengal and Maharashtra. Both the states have been at stand-off with the union government.
In the last video conferencing with the CMs, PM Modi acknowledged the states for aiding the decision of the nationwide lockdown of 21 days and also eulogized how all the states have worked jointly as a team to check the spread of the virus.
The lockdown which was initially for 21-days was later extended till May 3 by the government.
