oppn parties Lockdown 4: Not Much Change Except For Delegation Of Power To States

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  • Congress leader Rahul Gandhi opened the party's campaign for the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections with an Insaaf rally in Sangrur, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's home district, accusing the AAP government of failing to control drugs, gangster violence and corruption. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge outlined six commitments, including a drug-free Punjab, protection of farmers, employment for young people and action against corruption
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Lockdown 4: Not Much Change Except For Delegation Of Power To States

By Sunil Garodia
First publised on 2020-05-17 20:24:46

About the Author

Sunil Garodia Editor-in-Chief of indiacommentary.com. Current Affairs analyst and political commentator. Author of Cyber Scams in India, Digital Arrest, The Money Trap and The Human Hack

The nation-wide lockdown has been extended for 14 more days until 31st May. However, the Centre has delegated several powers to the state governments, as many chief ministers had demanded during the last video conference with Prime Minister Modi. The government has issued a negative list for the whole country and has left many decisions for the state governments in consultation with the Centre. In addition, the Centre has made it clear that the lockdown will have to be enforced with a renewed strictness in the next 14 days and concerned officials will be held liable and will be penalized if there is any laxity. Hence wearing masks, maintaining social distancing, using hand sanitizers before entering shops and offices and checking of vehicles for e-passes or overcrowding will continue to be enforced with a renewed strictness.

The night curfew from 7 pm to 7 am will continue across the country. Belying expectations, air and rail travel, including Metro and suburban services, will not resume until 31st May. Schools, colleges, other educational institutes, coaching or training classes will not open. Hotels and restaurants (except for takeaway and home delivery) will remain closed. Gyms and swimming pools will have to wait till May 31 before reopening. Religious places will not open. Public gatherings of any kind - political, religious or social - are banned, but weddings can be held with a maximum of 50 guests and funerals with only 20 mourners in attendance as in Lockdown 3.0. Inter-state buses can start with mutual consent of states while state governments will take the decision on allowing the running of public buses and opening od stand-alone shops. Central government offices will open and private offices can open with 33% staff as before. The state governments will decide on which activities will be allowed in which zones, again in consultation with the Centre.

One feels that despite the request from many states for relaxation in the lockdown, the Centre could not offer many (like air and rail travel, for instance) mainly because of the sudden spurt in new cases in the last three days. India went from just about 80000 to over 90000 Covid -19 cases in just three days. On May 16, a record 4885 new cases were reported all over the country. Also, the Centre has conceded the fact that the states were best placed to consider the ground situation in their respective areas and were better placed to take the decision on which activities to allow and where. The way the Centre has issued the current guidelines, it seems that if there is no drop in new cases, there will even be a Lockdown 5.0 after May 31.

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