With each passing day, the state of Maharashtra has been reporting massive surge in COVID-19 cases owing to which CM Uddhav Thackeray led government has issued several guidelines, stricter rules along with imposition of night curfew. While, if the cases don't see a decline then the CM has hinted of another lockdown in the state.
Familiar well with the consequences of lockdown, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut has appealed the CM of not going with the decision of imposing a lockdown, he has rather appealed to put in place restrictions to contain the spread of the virus.
The state BJP president Chandrakant Patil too, is not in favour of another lockdown.
As per a report in The Indian Express, Sanjay Raut said, "A complete lockdown will hit the economy of the state. The poor will suffer again. Industries, shopkeepers, traders and the working class will be hit hard. This is why I am not in favour of a complete lockdown."
Revealing that he had had a word with the Chief Minister regarding alternatives, Raut added, “Instead of a total lockdown, the state government should impose restrictions. We need to break the chain of transmission which can be achieved if several restrictions are brought in to prevent overcrowding at public and market places.”
Recalling last year's lockdown, Raut said, "last year’s lockdown, too, was lifted in phases as restrictions were put in place." “This should be done again because if a lockdown happens, the economy will be devastated. The government, too, will not get taxes. Both the government and the people will be hit," he added.
Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has already said that a decision regarding imposition of lockdown in Pune will be taken on April 2. “By April 1, if cases don’t go down, we will be forced to impose the lockdown in Pune district,” he had said.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra broke records by reporting highest single-day spike with more than 40,000 cases. The state has seen a sudden rise in cases since February.
