Centre's policies on lockdown confusing, arbitrary: Mamata Banerjee

Will follow Centre's orders but it has to be 'proper, transparent and without any political interference', says chief minister.

The Centre’s policies on the lockdown to contain the coronavirus outbreak are confusing, contradictory and made without consulting the states, said West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday hours after her video meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Centre is asking for “complete enforcement of the lockdown” but it is issuing circulars permitting shops to open. "If shops are permitted to open, how can we then ask people to remain indoors and not venture outside. If they go out, it will lead to crowding and then the lockdown will fail. The Centre is taking decisions without consulting the states,”