Left, Right & Centre

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari tells NDTV the virus is not a natural virus, it is an artificial virus, says migrants left due to fear but he is hopeful they will return when businesses reopen. Says we need to fight the coronavirus but we are also fighting an economic war. We are a poor country and can't increase the lockdown from month to month"

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a massive Rs 20 lakh crore package today which includes the previous RBI announcements. The package is part of a massive mission - "self-reliant India" to tackle the deadly coronavirus. Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot says "the decision to announce the economic package was a good one, the announcement has come late and there was a need for it for a long time."

Speaking on PM Modi's announcement of a Rs 20 lakh crore economic package to tackle the deadly coronavirus, which came a day after his meeting with the chief ministers, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel says "that all CMs had asked for an economic package and that they will wait for the announcements to see how much the states, labourers and farmers get."

Speaking on the economic package announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi today, Ashwath Narayan, Karnataka's Deputy Chief Minister said that "the size of the economic package is very attractive, essential and very encouraging for the revival of the economy".

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday addressed the nation - his third address since the announcement of lockdown in late March. The Prime Minister announced Rs 20 lakh crore economic package for what he called "Mission Self-Reliant India" to tide over the coronavirus crisis. He also announced 'Lockdown 4.0' after May 17, which would be completely different, with new rules.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today announced a Rs 20 lakh crore stimulus package to tackle the impact of coronavirus. The package will focus on land, labour, liquidity and law, PM Modi said. The special economic package, equivalent to around 10 per cent of India's GDP, would be the main component of "Aatma Nirbhar Bharat" or self-reliant India, the Prime Minister said, addressing the nation for the third time since he announced a total lockdown in late March. On the show, we speak to Vikram Kirloskar, President of CII and Preetha Reddy, Vice Chairman of Apollo Hospitals.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took part in a meeting with the chief ministers of all states and Union territories, and discussed with them measures to tackle the coronavirus pandemic. During the meeting Prime Minister Modi took opinions on whether the ongoing lockdown should be extended. On the show, Sushmita Dev, National Spokesperson of the Congress, said: "It is not just about listening but working together without any arm-twisting".

Speaking to NDTV, Dr Vikram Patel, a Harvard Medical School doctor , says it's time for India to lift the lockdown. "Don't panic about curves and instead put into place the necessary steps to contain the pandemic after the lockdown lifts," he said. Having more cases after the lockdown is inevitable, he adds.

No Reverse transcription PCR or RT-PCR tests - conducted to detect the presence of pathogens in the body - will be done for coronavirus patients showing mild symptoms before they are discharged, the Union Health Ministry said today, revising its guidelines for the discharge of COVID-19 patients.

Hyundai, India's second largest car manufacturer, started production after several weeks of lockdown because of the coronavirus pandemic. The company rolled out 200 cars on the first day of the resumption of factory operation. The auto sector has been in distress due to flagging demand even before the lockdown was announced in March.

Coronavirus cases in India crossed the 54,000 mark today. Over 440 cases have been reported in Delhi today. It is the biggest single day spike, but recoveries are also highest in a single day. West Bengal has the highest COVID-19 death rate. The total number of deaths due to COVID-19 in India is now 1,783.

The misery of migrants is real and present. Pushed to desperation with no work and no food they are forced to undertake a journey of hundreds of kilometres on foot. In searing heat with no food, no water and no help mothers with children are walking from Mumbai to Bihar from Uttar Pradesh to Madhya Pradesh, walking for days on end to get to their homes.

India saw a record spike in the number of coronavirus cases, almost 4000 in 24 hours. This takes the total to 46,711 COVID-19 cases in the country, including 1,583 deaths. On the show, we spoke to Dr Randeep Guleria, Director of AIIMS, who says that the rising number of is a cause of concern and it suggests that we haven't reached our peak and that COVID-19 will not disappear very quickly.

Unemployment has hit a new high, according to data released by CMIE. Small traders and wage labourers most severely hit during the lockdown, but job losses are across the board. On the show we spoke to Mahesh Vyas, MD and CEO, Centre For Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), who says it is logical to divide the country into green, orange and red zones, but it is important to recognise that we cannot have silos of growth and remaining parts locked down and we cannot have Rural India working while Urban India is shutdown.

As India tries to unlock, the multiple orders on coronavirus from Centre and States has created confusion on the ground. With over 4,000 coronavirus orders we try to understand if there is clear or a confused strategy?