Maha CM Pitches 8-Day Total Lockdown in All-Party Meet: Sources

Thackeray took to Twitter to say that contact-tracing is impossible with places open urged support to the decision.

In the two-and-a-half hour long all party meet, CM Thackeray emphasised on the need for the total lockdown.

(Photo: Eshwar Ranjana/The Quint)

In an all-party meet on the situation of rising COVID-19 cases in the state, Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray pitched for an eight-day total lockdown to break the ongoing surge of infections in the state, sources have told The Quint.

In the two-and-a-half hour long all party meet, Thackeray emphasised on the need for the lockdown, pointing out that one positive patient is affecting at least 25 persons at the current rate.

Thackeray said the surge has immensely affected the state’s health infrastructure and that a lockdown with minor relaxations will not help control the situation.

The development comes as the state has been scaling new peaks daily in the number of infections, with Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Akola and several other districts being badly hit by the second wave.

‘Contact-Tracing is Technically Impossible With Everything Open’: Uddhav Tells Centre

Soon after the meeting Thackeray tweeted via the Maharashtra CMO handle that stringent steps will have to be taken in order to save lives.

“I urge all political parties that whetever decision is taken in public interest needs to be supported. The number of patients are rising to such an extent that if a lockdown is not imposed today, a situation will arise tomorrow that will automatically demand for a step like that to be taken,” he said.

Thackeray said that the poor and the unorganised sectors will be taken into consideration before taking any step.

Further saying that the government will vaccinate more and more people, Thackeray said, “People were home during the lockdown imposed last year, so it was easier to trace contacts. However, now that everything has opened, this has become technically difficult and the Centre must understand this.”

“In order to stop the cycle, some strict decisions will have to be taken,” adding that priority needs to be given to saving lives.

Oppn Asks for Detailed Plan, Relief for Unorganised Sector

Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis demanded a comprehensive plan by the state government to deal with the after effects of lockdown. Fadnavis also demanded relief for the unorganised sector and daily-wage labourers.

Fadnavis also urged Thackeray to consider the ground reality about how people will react if lockdown is imposed forcefully, sources said.

Taking the points into consideration, Thackeray assured that his government will come up with a plan after discussing with experts and members of the State Task Force members, in a meeting scheduled to be held on Sunday.

Thackeray has reportedly assured of a decision on the same in two days.