Modi’s need for control impairs India’s virus recovery

Amarinder Singh, chief minister of the northwestern state of Punjab, begged Prime Minister Narendra Modi (pic) on a Monday video conference call to let him have a say in restarting some parts of the industrial centres of Ludhiana and Jalandhar.

THE gradual reopening of India’s economy after a 43-day coronavirus lockdown has been marred by a hyper-centralisation of decision-making. Deepening mistrust between New Delhi and the 28 states threatens to splinter the country’s common market of 1.3 billion people, its biggest draw for investors.

With infections surging by nearly 50% to cross 70,000 since the shutdown was eased about a week ago, it’s clear that one-size-fits-all rules have been less than a stellar success.