Fact check: Was the lockdown extension done without consulting the COVID-19 Task Force?

Claim: PM Modi decided to extend the lockdown period without consulting the COVID-19 task force

What is the rumour about?

• The rumour circulated after a media report published by a news magazine claimed that PM Modi did not consult the 21-member scientific COVID taskforce before extending the lockdown period. 
• The media report also made certain claims about COVID-19 Task Force
• It alleged that the COVID-19 committee did not meet at all last week, the time period prior to the decision making on the extension of the lockdown.

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Who started the rumour?

• A report published by a news magazine
• Social media forwards

Rating: False

Republic World did a fact check

• Republic World did a fact check on the news report released by the magazine and found it to be false. 
• The rumor of the task force not meeting for over a week was found to be false. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) confirmed that the COVID-19 task force, in fact, met 14 times in the last month.
• The ICMR also confirmed that all decisions taken by the Centre and the PM with regards to COVID-19 on a national level involve the members of the task force.
• Decisions are taken after the consultation of all 21 scientists of the task force  

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Even PIB did a fact check on this and found this report to be false 

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