Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the measures needed in the first phase of the lock down were not needed during the second phase and similarly the measures needed in the third phase are not needed in the fourth phase.

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday asked the Chief Ministers, to suggest the measures of relaxations and economy aspects in the states, after the end of lock down 3.0 on May 17^th.

He interacted with the Chief Ministers on Monday, the fourth time after the first lock down. The four hour long interaction with the CMs, where all the Chief Ministers expressed their opinions and suggestions to PM, some Chief Ministers expressed their opinion in favour of continuing with the lock down beyond May 17^th, given the focus on containment, the lock down may not be called off even as more easing of curbs particularly in green zones, is on the anvil. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamatha Benerjee complained about the Centre’s unilateral actions, she like other CMs such as Uddhav Thackeray and Nitish Kumar favoured extension of the lock down.

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar expressed reservations on resumption of train services. Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan said state should be allowed to decide on public transport. Odisha CM Navin Patnaik suggested that there should be broad lock down principles. Uddhav Thackeray expressed concern over reports of a second wave of infection in China.

Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandra Sekhar Rao disfavoured resumption of passenger trains saying it would lead to movement of people and pose problems in testing them for Covid- 19. KCR urged PM not to resume the passenger train services. If train services are allowed, the will be movement of people from one destination to another. It will be difficult to conduct tests and every passenger, and also put all those who travel by trains under quarantine.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy urged Prime Minister to extend financial assistance of Rs. 16, 000 crores to strengthen medical and health infrastructure. He also sought permission to restart public transport as it will boost the economy and help migrant workers return to AP for work. He also urged the Prime Minister to ensure movement of cargo vehicles to revive the economy. He also said that freight movement has been facing many hurdles at interested check posts even after the lock down norms was eased.

According to an official press release Modi hinted that a more graded relaxations of the lock down could be on its way under May 17^th. During an interaction with Chief Ministers on Monday said I Am of the firm view that the measures needed in the first phase of the lock down were not needed during the second phase and similarly the measures needed in the third phase are not needed in the fourth phase. We have two fold challenge, to reduce the transmission rate of the Covid- 19 and to increase public activity gradually, while adhering the all the guidelines, he added. Modi also said that one must understand that the world had fundamentally changed post- Covid- 19.

Now the world will be pre- Corona and post- Corona just like the case of the world wars. He said the new way of life would be on the principle of “Jaan Se Lekar Jag Tak” from and individual to the whole of humanity. He also said we must all plan for the new reality.