Dispur is in favour of extending the ongoing lockdown to check the spread of the coronovirus by at least two more weeks.

Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal said this to The Telegraph on Tuesday when asked about the state’s stand on the lockdown.

“We are for extension of the lockdown for at least two more weeks in the state. We are also for continuance of the night curfew for a longer duration, till things are almost normal, and for staggered movement of trains to bring in the stranded,” he said.

Sonowal also stressed on kickstarting the economy. “On the suggestion of the expert committee, we had a very fruitful interaction with the representatives of industries on Monday. We want to resume economic activities without in any way affecting the ongoing fight to check the spread of Covid-19,” he said.

Sonowal’s stand assumes significance because it reveals Dispur’s mind vis-a-vis the lockdown — and more.

His tweet on Monday night, soon after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s interaction with chief ministers, had not revealed much. “Leading #TeamIndia from the front with courage & determination, PM @narendramodiji has made India’s fight against #COVID19 a global model to follow. In today’s VC by the PM with all CMs, we discussed ways to gradually rejuvenate our economy, keeping every citizen healthy & safe”, he tweeted. Sonowal’s appeal for staggered arrival of the stranded reflected the government’s growing concern over rising Covid-19 cases in the state, 64 till Tuesday evening, and existing facilities for those returning, something he had articulated on Monday. “Providing them proper medical check-up, accommodation and quarantine facilities for those (returnees) with symptoms is going to be a mammoth task,” he had admitted.

He had also sought the support of the masses and elected representatives to help arrange the facilities. Over 10,000 stranded people are expected to return home within the next couple of days.

Sources said the “tone and tenor” of the Prime Minister-chief minister interaction suggested that states could be given a free hand to prepare their own roadmap to contain the virus as one-size-fits-all policy may not work in the long run given the country’s diversity and size.

They also said the 6pm to 6am curfew during the lockdown may become 7pm to 7am after May 17.