Lockdown: Jagan Sensible Advice; But KCR?

The Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a crucial meet on Saturday with chief ministers of states to discuss on the extension of lockdown. The CMs of Telugu states, however, delivered contrasting opinions on the extension and gave divergent advice to the PM. 

The AP CM Ys Jagan Mohan Reddy advised the PM to restrict the lockdown to only red and orange zones and lift it in green zones imposing some restrictions. He said the AP had a total of 676 mandals of which 37 red zones and 44 orange zones were recognized. The CM requested the PM to limit lockdown in only 81 red and orange zones. Further, he opined Indian economy is drastically affected with the lockdown. "If the present scenario is continued, the families of the farmers and the agriculture sector would severely be affected," YS Jagan said.

Telangana CM KCR, however, advised the PM to continue the lockdown period for two more weeks. He is of the opinion that lockdown is the only weapon to contain the spread of coronavirus pandemic. 

Analysis: Comparatively, Jagan, certainly, has delivered a sensible advice. The Telangana government is losing Rs.450 crores per day with lockdown's implementation. And this loss will make the government get its welfare and development programmes confined with many limitations. If at all, AP CM's advice is considered and put into practice, lockdown can be imposed in only red and orange zones. Even if any new coronavirus positive cases are traced in other areas, those areas can be declared red zones only by then. In the meanwhile, the financial growth will be brought to normalcy. All said and done, YS Jagan has delivered a precious advice to Modi while KCR gave a bad advice.