Among the other leaders he called up were Mulayam Singh & Akhilesh Yadav, Mamta Banerjee, Naveen Patnaik, south leaders KCR, MK Stalin, & ally Parkash Singh Badal.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday spoke to several leaders, including his predecessor Manmohan Singh, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and former president Pranab Mukherjee, on the situation arising out of the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Sources said Modi also called up various leaders, including Mulayam Singh Yadav and Akhilesh Yadav of the Samajwadi Party, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik, DMK’s MK Stalin and Shiromani Akali Dal leader Parkash Singh Badal.
The round of phone calls come roughly two weeks after PM Modi declared 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.
Sources said 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 coronavirus 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.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appealed to people to light candles and diyas, or switch on torches or mobile phone flashlights, for nine minutes at 9 pm today, to “illuminate the common purpose we are all fighting for”. “The light from the lamps will show that we are together in this battle,” he said. Eleven days into the lockdown, an informal group of Union Ministers is exploring the possible next steps and options after the 21-day period ends April 14.
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