BENGALURU: The state government, soon after the all party meeting on Tuesday, declared a weekend ‘curfew’ by shutting down all non-essential services from 9pm on Friday till 6am on Monday to control the spread of the Covid-19 virus till May 4.
On other days, the curfew timing has been extended from 9pm to 6am, except for essential services.
As per the stringent measures announced by the government in a late night government order, the state has said that barring all essential services which include state and central government offices dealing with essential services, industries and companies requiring to function 24/7, employees and vehicles of telecom and internet service provides, patients and their attendants requiring emergency care, all other activities shall be barred in the state for the duration.
The order says that neighbourhood shops dealing with food, groceries, fruits and vegetables, dairy and milk booths, fish and mutton stalls shall be open only between 6am to 10am, with restaurants being allowed to only cater to home delivery or take aways between Friday night till Monday morning.
The movement of essential services will be allowed only on producing valid ID proofs.
The government, in its order, has also reverted to old norms of allowing only 50 people for a marriage function with covid appropriate behaviour while restricting the number of people attending funerals and cremations to 20.
Earlier, on Tuesday evening, at an all party meeting called by governor Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala, the issue of lockdown was first broached by former chief minister and JD(S) floor leader H D Kumaraswamy who said the government has no option but to enforce lockdown in the state.
“Despite the November 2020 report warning of the second wave, the state was rather unprepared and is now overwhelmed by the number of cases. Now these cases cannot be controlled with the enforcement of night curfews, as is evident with the rising cases. I am afraid that there is no option but to enforce a lockdown in the present circumstances to put brakes on the Covid-19 spread,” he said.
Echoing similar thoughts but refraining from asking the government to enforce a “lockdown”, opposition leader Siddaramaiah and even KPCC president D K Shivakumar suggested that the government must implement the technical advisory committee (TAC) recommendations in totality.
“While stern measures need to be taken to control the spread of the virus, we should also keep in mind that there is a need to protect the livelihood of people. So any decision of the government needs to be taken in consultation with experts and the ground realities,” said Shivakumar.
At the meeting, the issue of lockdown was backed by several other leaders including the legislative council chairman Basavaraj Horrati and even governor Vala.
However, Horrati deferred over a complete lockdown as it will hurt the movement of people and said that it should be implemented for only on weekends.
The governor, on the other hand, said the more important issue on hand is to have a “healthy Karnataka” and that if it merits to have a lockdown to ensure this then so be it.
Responding to these thoughts, CM Yediyurappa, who joined via video conference from the hospital, said he has taken serious note of the suggestions given by the opposition leaders and will have a final round of discussions with the bureaucracy and the TAC on whether a lockdown is mandated or in what other manner can a “lockdown” be enforced.
Home minister Basavaraj Bommai and revenue minister R Ashoka, briefing the media said that the measures like lockdown or otherwise stern action will be notified shortly.
“More importantly, we need the support of the people in implementing any and every action,” said Ashoka.