Protests in Mumbai over order for extension of covid-19 lockdown

Hundreds of protesters on Tuesday evening took to the streets of Mumbai, India to protest the nationwide lockdown extension announced by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to last till May 3.

The protest which began hours after the announcement, was led predominantly by migrant workers who had left their home villages to seek livelihood at the country’s financial hub.

The chief minister of Maharashtra, Uddhav Thackeray, told newsmen that the workers were given the impression that they would be able to travel once the initial 21days lockdown period was over and had gathered at the Bandra railway station in Mumbai where the protest broke out.

“We had to use batons to control the crowd. No one was injured,” Senior police chief Dattaray Bhargude said

Appealing to the workers, Thackeray stated that the government had promised to cater for their shelter and meals with the help of some NGO’s.

Read also: COVID-19: Trump cuts WHO funding, as US deaths set single-day record

“You have come from other states and stay here with us. There is a problem and a challenge and we will face this challenge together… You have come here, and you are living in this state and we will take complete care of you. There is no need for you to worry,” Thackeray said.

Meanwhile, a similar protest had occured last week at a Western state in Gujarat where about 80 protesters were arrested for throwing stones at the police who warned them to go home.

The country has recorded 377 deaths and 11,439 covid-19 cases so far.

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