Covid-19: Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba Dismisses Media Claims, Says No Plan To Extend 21-Day Lockdown

Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba has clarified that there are no plans to extend the lockdown period beyond the current 21-day announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 24 March to fight the coronavirus pandemic, reports India Today.

He was commenting on the report that was being circulated on social media claiming that Modi government could extend the lockdown period due to the migrant workers’ exodus.

He further said, “I’m surprised to see such reports, there is no such plan of extending the lockdown,"

The information was given by Prasar Bharati News Service, India’s public broadcaster, who tweeted that Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba has denied reports in the media claiming that the government can carry forward the shutdown.

It said, “There are reports in the media and some rumors that the government can increase it after the end of the 21-day shutdown period. The cabinet secretary denied these reports and said that they are unfounded.”

It should be noted that the government has asked all states and union territories to implement the lockdown strictly in view of the huge migration of migrant labourers.

The government has also directed the local authorities to implement number of measures to ensure that migrant labourers do not face any hardship during the lockdown period.