Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi has opined that the nation-wide lockdown is unconstitutional. Penning an article for Telangana Today, the MIM leader today hit out at the Modi government for its alleged overreach.

"The Union government is relying on the National Disaster Management Act, 2005, (NDMA) to issue successive “advisories” to State governments on how States should enforce the law. A plain reading of the legislation makes it clear that the Act does not empower the Union government to enforce a nationwide lockdown," Owaisi states in the Op-Ed.

He adds, "In contrast, the constitutional and legislative framework actually empowers States to be at the forefront of fighting an epidemic, he cites, citing provisions under the State List of Schedule VII to the Constitution."

Owaisi also takes a swipe at the Centre's role of a "micromanager", criticizing the setting up of Inter-Ministerial Central Teams (IMCTs) to “conduct field visits” in the States.