CMs of Kerala, West Bengal, UP, Delhi, MP and Karnataka beside the J&K administrator, pushed for an extension, while Andhra Pradesh CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy suggested a partial lockdown. After the meeting Maharashtra CM Uddhav and Telangana CM KCR extended the lockdown till April 30.

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said to the Chief Ministers on Saturday in a video conference, his new motto at this stage “Jaan Bhi, Jahan Bhi (Life as well as our World)”.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said while earlier mantra was “Jaan Hai To Jahan Hai (If there is life, you can enjoy the World)”. Even as 21 lock down looks set to be extended, the Centre in consultation with the state is moving to restart economic activity in graded manner in what marks a major change of approach in the fight against Covid- 19 pandemic. In the video interaction with CMs Modi said the situation had “Left us with no option but to extend the lock down by atleast two weeks”.

The discussion ended with a broad agreement on framing norms for greater public movements while continuing with a focused containment strategy for hotspots. While the lock down is to be extended till month end, there will be several measures for a calibrated exit, the guidelines for which are too spelt out in the next two to three days. Business and markets maybe allowed resuming in areas that have no infections or a low incident to the disease. States are likely to designate districts, towns and cities as red, orange and green zones; there might be some zoning within cities and towns as well.

To allow differentiated restoration of normal life, with conditions like use of masks and social distancing in public places.