The Centre is considering a request made by most states to extend the ongoing nationwide lockdown by two more weeks beyond April 14, government sources said on Saturday after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's interaction with chief ministers.

'Most states requested to extend the lockdown by two weeks and the Centre is considering the request,' a government source said.

But a tweet from Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, after their video interaction with the Prime Minister, seemed to suggest that a decision about extending the lockdown had already been taken.

'PM has taken correct decision to extend lockdown. Today, India’s position is better than many developed countries because we started lockdown early. If it is stopped now, all gains would be lost. To consolidate, it is imp to extend it,' the Delhi chief minister said in a tweet.

During the meeting with the PM, held over video hook-up, Kejriwal and Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh suggested extension of the nationwide lockdown.

Singh suggested extension of the national lockdown by at least a fortnight after April 14, the day when the 21-day period ends.

According to sources, Kejriwal said he was in favour of extending the present, 21-day lockdown till April 30. He also advocated that no relaxation to transport services, including road and air, should be offered at the moment.

Modi, accompanied by some senior officials, including those of the Union health ministry, was wearing a white mask during the meeting which was attended by, among others, Mamata Banerjee (West Bengal), Uddhav Thackeray (Maharashtra), Yogi Adityanath (Uttar Pradesh), Manohar Lal (Haryana), K. Chandrashekhar Rao (Telangana) and Nitish kumar (Bihar).

The central government is understood to have also obtained views on the issue from all relevant agencies and stakeholders involved in the efforts to contain the spread of the pandemic.

The video conference, which began at 11am, came amidst indications that the central government may extend the nationwide lockdown with some possible relaxations even as Punjab and Odisha have already announced the same.

This was the second time the Prime Minister interacted with chief ministers via video link after the 21-day lockdown was imposed. During his April 2 interaction, Modi had pitched for a 'staggered' exit from the ongoing lockdown.

Addressing floor leaders of various parties who have representation in Parliament, Modi had on Wednesday made it clear that the lockdown cannot be lifted in one go, asserting that the priority of his government is to 'save each and every life'.

According to an official statement after the Wednesday interaction, the Prime Minister told these leaders that states, district administrations and experts have suggested extension of the lockdown to contain the spread of the virus.

Before the lockdown was announced on March 24, the Prime Minister had interacted with the chief ministers on March 20 to discuss ways and means to check the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Allow states to carry out economic activities: Chhattisgarh CM

Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel on Saturday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to permit states to carry out economic activities within their borders.

Interacting with the Prime Minister on Saturday, he said the ban on inter-state road, air and rail traffic be continued because of the increasing number of coronavirus cases. But it would be appropriate to leave it to the state governments to decide whether economic activities within their borders should be relaxed or not, Baghel said in a statement.

'Given the current situation, we will definitely face an economic crisis,' he cautioned.

Ramp up testing

Baghel also urged the Prime Minister to increase the number of personal protective equipment available and called for ramping up testing facilities to curb the spread of the disease.

He suggested that Central University examinations be postponed or held online.

He sought an economic package for the MSME sector hit hard by the nationwide lockdown for 21 days. Due to the long lockdown, the existence of this important sector, which provides the maximum employment to people, has been endangered, the chief minister said at the meeting.

Transfer cash to poor: Chidambaram

Senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram urged chief ministers of states where the party is in power to unanimously demand for transfer of cash to every poor family, the suggestion coming prior to the Prime Minister’s video conference with all CMs on Saturday morning.

He said the poor have lost their jobs and have exhausted their savings. They are now standing in lines to get free food, the former Union finance minister said.

Chidambaram said remonetising the poor would cost only Rs 65,000 crore, which is economically viable.

“Chief ministers Amarinder Singh, Ashok Gehlot, Bhupesh Baghel, V Narayanasami, Uddhav Thackeray and E. Palaniswani should tell the prime minister today that just as LIVES are important LIVELIHOOD of the poor is important,” he tweeted.

“Can the state stand by and watch them go hungry,' he asked, adding that chief ministers should demand that cash be transferred to every poor family immediately.