PM Modi to meet CMs today: 'Graded' exit from lockdown?

New Delhi: Days before the extended lockdown ends, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will interact with the Chief Ministers of all states and Union Territories via video conference on Monday.

Though the exact time of the meeting is yet to be confirmed, the meeting could focus on a graded exit from the ongoing lockdown, which is in place till May 3.

Notably, this will be the third video conference of the Prime Minister with the Chief Ministers amid Covid-19 pandemic in the country. He had held a similar meetings on March 20 and April 11 via video conference and had discussed the prevailing coronavirus situation with the Chief Ministers.

While the Central and the state governments have been giving gradual relaxation in various sectors to boost economic activities and provide relief to the people, some states such as Telangana, Maharashtra and others are expected to request the Prime Minister for extension in the lockdown beyond May 3 to ensure that coronavirus cases remain under control.

Apart from that, the Prime Minister is also likely to take up state-specific issues and formulate a common exit plan. In the last interaction on April 11, several Chief Ministers had recommended the extension of the 21-day lockdown by two weeks, which was slated to end on April 14 earlier.

On April 14, the Prime Minister had announced that the lockdown is being extended till May 3.