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PM Modi holds meeting with leaders of various parties to discuss coronavirus lockdown

PM Modi holds meeting with leaders of various parties to discuss coronavirus lockdown

Modi meeting (File photo)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday held a meeting with Parliamentary floor leaders of different parties -- over the coronavirus pandemic. However, an announcement regarding the extension or culmination of the pan-India lockdown is unlikely to be made before April 11.

The meeting started at 11 am through video conferencing. The primary point on the agenda is speculated to be whether to end the coronavirus lockdown or extend it. Another major point was the approach the government should adopt in case it wishes to withdraw the lockdown.

The meet comes amidst indications that the Central government may extend the lockdown across the country beyond April 14 after several states have favoured the extension to contain the fast-spreading virus, as the positive cases in the country show no signs of any let up.

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The economic impact of the shutdown and possible economic packages were also discussed. and how to deal with it.

Union Ministers Rajnath Singh and Amit Shah were present with PM Modi.

Those participated, included Ghulam Nabi Azad, leader of the opposition in Rajya Sabha, and Nationalist Congress Party head Sharad Pawar. The Shiv Sena is believed to have been represented by Sanjay Raut, the Lok Janshakti Party by Chirag Paswan, the Samajwadi Party by Prof Ram Gopal Yadav, the Bahujan Samaj Party by Danish Ali and Satish Mishra and the Biju Janata Dal by Pinaki Misra.

Sources said, these leaders were briefed by secretaries of various ministries---health, home and rural development ---on the actions taken by the government to tackle COVID-19 and mitigate the hardships arising out of the lockdown.

Several opposition leaders raised the issue of shortage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for health workers in the country while few also suggested that construction of the new parliament building should be avoided, a source said.

As per the Union health ministry's Wednesday morning update, there are 149 deaths and 5,194 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country even as the country entered its third week of nationwide lockdown.

(with inputs from agencies)