Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday demanded transparency in the Centre's handling of the novel coronavirus pandemic in India and asked how the Narendra Modi-led government was planning to open the economy and country post the nationwide lockdown.

In second such press conference in three weeks, Rahul emphasised there was a need for better coordination between states and the central government. The Gandhi scion also spoke on the significance of decentralisation of authority in such a critical time. "The prime minister will have to trust chief ministers, who in turn will have to trust district magistrate," he said.

"We need to decentralise fight against COVID; there will be calamity if we continue to centralise decision-making," Rahul said.

Rahul said it was not the time to criticise but to have a strategy to open the lockdown. "Any businessman will tell you that there is a clash between economic supply chain and 'red, orange and green zones', that need to be resolved," Rahul said.

When asked if the "strong image of Narendra Modi" helps, the former Congress President said India needs "strong chief ministers, strong district magistrates and strong farmers" for the country's welfare.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday demanded transparency in the Centre's handling of the novel coronavirus pandemic in India and asked how the Narendra Modi-led government was planning to open the economy and country post the nationwide lockdown.

In second such press conference in three weeks, Rahul emphasised there was a need for better coordination between states and the central government. The Gandhi scion also spoke on the significance of decentralisation of authority in such a critical time. "The prime minister will have to trust chief ministers, who in turn will have to trust district magistrate," he said.

"We need to decentralise fight against COVID; there will be calamity if we continue to centralise decision-making," Rahul said.

Rahul said it was not the time to criticise but to have a strategy to open the lockdown. "Any businessman will tell you that there is a clash between economic supply chain and 'red, orange and green zones', that need to be resolved," Rahul said.

When asked if the "strong image of Narendra Modi" helps, the former Congress President said India needs "strong chief ministers, strong district magistrates and strong farmers" for the country's welfare.