MUMBAI: Minister for relief and rehabilitation
Vijay Wadettiwar on Friday said that Maharashtra must enforce complete lockdown for three weeks to save lives of innocent people. He added that he would put the same demand before chief minister Uddhav Thackeray.
Speaking to a Marathi news channel, the minister said, “As a relief and rehabilitation minister I will raise the demand before CM Uddhav Thackeray to impose complete lockdown for at least three weeks instead of weekend lockdown, considering the surge in Covid positive cases.”
“Lockdown has already been imposed in states like Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh. There were 12 lakh workers working in various sectors on a regular basis. They are using public transport, eating roadside Vadapav, having tea outside, how do we handle this situation?” questioned the minister.
Wadettiwar pointed out that no one had raised voice against the complete lockdown when the Centre had imposed it last year.
“Nowadays, kids are getting infected which was not the case earlier, youths are tested positive,” said the Congress leader.
Speaking about the Mumbai suburban train, the minister said that restrictions must be put on local trains.
“We have started to reschedule the local train timetable. There should be some restrictions and staggered time to travel in local for various sectors such as workers working in restaurants, medical staff, etc. like the last time.”
He appealed to opposition parties to cooperate to tackle crisis.
“Instead of blaming each other and indulging into politics in a pandemic situation, everyone should unite in this crisis,” said Wadettiwar.