India: Another lockdown from September 25 denied by government of India

The Union government on Monday denied reports that claimed that there will be another lockdown from September 25 due to the rise in covid-19 cases in the country. The Press Information Bureau (PIB) took to Twitter to debunk the viral fake report. Although PIB issued the clarification on September 12, many are still receiving the fake message and are being widely shared. A circular, which quoted the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), asked the Indian government to announce another lockdown, effective from September 25. The screenshot of the circular was widely shared on social media.

The order dated September 10 claimed in order to contain the spread of Covid-19 and decrease the mortality rate in the country, the National Disaster Management Authority, along with the Planning Commission, hereby urges the Government of India and directs the Prime Minister Office, Ministry of Home Affairs to re-impose a strict nationwide lockdown of 46 days starting from midnight 25th September 2020. Maintaining the supply chain of Essential Commodities in the country, therefore hereby NDMA is issuing a prior notice to the Ministry to plan accordingly.

The Press Information Bureau has dismissed the order in circulation as fake and has said that NDMA has not issued such an order.