Uddhav Thackeray: Centre, state must consult, cooperate to tackle Covid situation

The chief minister, who completed six months in office on Wednesday, was speaking at the Loksatta interactive web series programme, Sathicha Gazhal Maharashtracha.

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Maharashtra Chief minister Uddhav Thackeray said on Thursday that he was not consulted either before the three-week national lockdown was imposed on March 25, or before the announcement on the resumption of flights.

Thackeray underscored the need for consultations and cooperation between the Centre and states in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic. “There is need for cooperation between the Centre and state to go forward,” he said.

“There should be dialogue between the Centre and state before placing restrictions or granting relaxations from the lockdown. Initially, I was opposed to resuming air services because the airport is not just a service, it is an industry. Apart from pilots and cabin crew, other staff are involved in it. With the lockdown in force until May 31, there were issues of how to transport them and passengers to and from the airport. Then the Centre said that the state should allow at least limited services, stating that Mumbai is an important centre,” Thackeray said.