After Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed concern over people moving around freely in the State during the nationwide lockdown, Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa on Friday convened a Cabinet meeting and decided on stricter implementation of restrictions across Karnataka.
Addressing the media after the meeting, he said, “Prime Minister Modi spoke to me at 9.30 a.m. and observed that several people were still moving around in Karnataka, in spite of the lockdown. He asked the State government to ensure effective implementation of the lockdown restrictions.”
“We have discussed all the measures to be taken to handle the situation. The district in-charge Ministers have been asked to take complete responsibility in ensuring that all the measures are in place to curb the pandemic,” he said.
He also said the government had taken steps to ensure adequate supply of the essential commodities required for daily consumption. Strict action will be taken if any shopkeeper or trader is found taking advantage of the crisis and collecting exorbitant charges from customers, Mr. Yediyurappa said.
Food in packets
For ensuring affordable food to the poor, the government will continue to supply food in packets at Indira Canteens. All steps have been taken to ensure supply and availability of medicines and masks in shops, the Chief Minister said.
He also said permission has been granted for free movement of goods vehicle carrying vegetables, fruits, food items, pulses, meat, and fish from godowns to shops and market yards. He appealed to traders and people visiting markets and shops to follow social distancing during marketing/shopping.
Mr. Yediyurappa also thanked the Muslim community in the State for deciding that there would be no prayers in mosques and people would pray at their homes. On Thursday, Revenue Minister R. Ashok and Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai held a meeting with Muslim leaders in the city. “This decision by the leaders of the community has given us strength in fighting the pandemic,” the Chief Minister said.
Social distancing at Cabinet meet
Extending “social distancing” to the Cabinet meeting as well, Mr. Yediyurappa and his ministerial colleagues held it in the bigger Conference Hall, instead of the smaller Cabinet Hall, at the State Secretariat.
The large oval table that the Cabinet usually sits around was done away with. Instead, the Chief Minister and the other Ministers sat in chairs kept at a certain distance from one another.
The Union Cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minster Narendra Modi in Delhi on March 25, too saw social distancing being followed.
