Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Friday urged the State unit party chiefs and workers to do their best in solving the problems faced by the citizens, particularly the poor and migrants, during the corona pandemic lockdown.
Sonia through video conferencing said that already the economy of the country were in tatters and the current COVID 19 scare will make things worse hence be prepared.
On their part, Congress leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking him to help ferry the stranded migrant labourers back to their respective states, while Party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra wrote to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath seeking an increase in the coronavirus testing in the state.
During this PCC meet, Sonia said that this is a time of great crisis for the country and all of us and in such circumstances such a meeting is being held for the first time.
“The country is fighting to stop the Corona epidemic. In this fight we are fully ready to play our role. You all know that Congress officials in every state , Our workers have been engaged in serving the countrymen for many weeks," she stated.
Sonia continued with her point and said, “You must have known that I and former President Rahul Gandhi also gave some suggestions by writing letters to the Prime Minister. Our hope is that the government plans to meet this challenge. Most The poor, farmers and laborers are suffering more and more pain. “
Sonia also talked about the country’s economy. “Our economy is going to have a lot of burden due to the lockdown. Already the economy was in crisis – it seems that now more difficulties will increase. We have to prepare for these situations. In public misery, the public Will have to support and will have to make every effort to remove their problems," she mentioned.
During this period, Sonia also asked the state Congress presidents to know the condition of their states.
Chowdhury sought PM's intervention in movement of stranded migrant labourers back to their respective states.
"Sir, may I suggest your good office to arrange ferrying these people to their homes or at least nearest point from where their respective States would assure them safe return to home," he wrote in his letter.
Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury also added that he would recommend using special 'COVID protection Trains' for this purpose.
Priyanka demanded that facilities for testing and treatment of COVID-19 and to control the spread of the pandemic be ramped up in the state. She cited the example of South Korea to argue that screening should be increased to contain the virus.
“South Korea has a population of 6 crore. The country screened six persons per 1000 people and successfully prevented the spread of the virus,” she said in her letter citing the example of Congress ruled Rajasthan where in Bhilwara 24 lakh people were screened in just nine days for the virus to identify those infected.
“Uttar Pradesh is home to 23 crore people but only 7,000 people have been screened. This number is very less for a state like Uttar Pradesh,” she said.
The Congress leader said authorities should conduct testing on mild to moderate high risk cases and treat them on a war footing.
Priyanka noted that reports are coming about community transmission of the disease from some parts of the state. She said urban areas are badly affected and reports have emerged that people are hiding their disease.
She said that measures should be taken to instil confidence in the people and encourage them to come up for testing. She also said the government should improve sanitation facilities and distribute free ration to the poor.
“The Government should ensure distribution of masks and hand sanatiser among the people and apprise the public of where they can get masks and sanitiser,” she added.
She further said that the opposition is with the government in this fight against the pandemic. “Coronavirus does not see any religion or caste and affects everyone. In this battle, there is a need to take steps by keeping our political ideologies away and help bring people together and create a fear-free atmosphere,” she said.
Uttar Pradesh is the country’s most populous state. The state has reported nearly 450 positive coronavirus cases. Four people have lost their lives so far in the State.