New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed with two Presidents and two Prime Ministers on Sunday. Modi called on former Presidents Pranab Mukherjee and Pratibha Devi Patil and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Devegowda over phone on the Covid- 19 in the country.

He also telephoned to AICC Chief Sonia Gandhi, SP leaders Mulayam Singh and Akilesh Yadav, TMC Chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamatha Benerjee, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Telangana CM KCR, DMK Chief M.K. Stalin and Akalidhal Siromani leader Prakash Singh Badal.

According to the sources, the Prime Minister’s outreach was part of the wider consultations being held on the modalities of lifting the lockdown, whenever that happens. Last week, the matter was discussed at a video-conference between the Prime Minister and various chief ministers. As the Covid- 19 cases showed a spike in the country, PM Modi has also reached out to various public personalities including cricketers and artistes to underscore the dos and don’ts to control the spread of the virus so the message reaches the people.

Modi called roughly two weeks after declaring a three-week lockdown in the country to slow down the spread the highly contagious virus. The move triggered huge criticism, with many pointing out that the Prime Minister had not taken the opposition or even the state Chief Minister – who have to implement the lockdown – on board. The country reached the Covid- 19 cases upto 3, 374 on Sunday, in last 24 hours the country recorded 472 cases and 90 people have died in the country.