The Congress on Thursday hit out at the Modi Government saying that the unplanned nationwide 21-day lockdown due to the coronavirus scare has led to a complete chaos and panic across all walks of life.
Addressing party leaders at the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meet, which was held via video conferencing, Congress president Sonia Gandhi said the unplanned lockdown has resulted in harassment of lakhs of migrants across the country.
“The 21-day lockdown was necessary but implemented in an unplanned manner. This unplanned lockdown has caused harassment to lakhs of migrant workers,” Sonia said.
Sonia also called on the Modi Government to provide personal protection equipment (PPE) to doctors, nurses and medical staff. The Government must publish details of designated hospitals, number of beds, quarantine and testing facilities and medical supplies, she said.
The Congress also stressed on the need to support the agriculture sector which is suffering due to the lockdown. Ease restrictions on farmers for harvesting. Farmers must be provided fertilzers and pesticides and access to easy lines of credit, the Congress interim chief said.
Sonia also urged the Centre to prepare and publish a Common Minimum Relief Programme for the middle class.
During the CWC meet, Sonia called upon the Congress governments, frontal organisations, leaders and workers to offer help to those who are at extreme risk. She urged the Congress chief ministers to call for better coordination and funds from the Centre, including early distribution of states’ share of GST, for effectively combating Covid-19.
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said that non release of State’s share of Rs 5,000 crore by the government of India is a hindrance in the fight against Covid-19 and he has taken up the matter with the Union Finance Minister.
Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Bhagel said, “The Congress Government in the State has given 10 kgs of ration free to all the families under the PDS system. Food to all children in anganwadis is being sent to their home. However, the GST share of over Rs 2,000 crore has not been released by the government of India.”
Former party president Rahul Gandhi, who also took part in the CWC, lashed out at the the Modi Government over the exodus of migrants in the country.
“We have looked at Covid-19 for two months since February and have spoken to experts. No country in the world has attempted a lockdown with huge migrant labour without arranging for their stay, food and ration and pushing them back home,” Rahul said.
Priyanka Gandhi, who is also the in-charge for Uttar Pradesh, took on the Yogi Adityanath-led government, saying that the state has faced the maximum brunt of lockdown.
“Instead of supporting those returning home, the police and administration in UP are thrashing them.
People are now being quarantined in inhuman conditions and sprayed with insecticides,” Priyanka said as she urged for more testing for coronavirus.