The Opposition leaders on Wednesday gave a thumb down to the Prime Minister’s stimulus package of Rs 20 lakh crore terming it hollow announcement.
Senior Congress leader and former finance minister P Chidambaram stated there is nothing in what Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said for the lakhs of poor and it’s a cruel blow to those who toil everyday,
Trinamool Congress chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee echoed her views and said while people expected to get relief, but the announcements by the FM is a big zero. “There is nothing for the States,” Mamata said.
Referring to the economic stimulus package, other leaders, including from Left parties, said neither the PM nor the FM mention about the rehabilitation road plan for laborers whose lives have been upended by the lockdown.
The former Finance Minister said, “Except for modest MSME package, we are disappointed with announcements made by FM.”
“Centre has announced Rs 3.6 lakh crore in the Rs 20-lakh crore package; where is the rest of Rs 16.4 lakh crore,” Chidambaram asked. He said the Government is a prisoner of its own ignorance and fears.
“The Government must spend more, borrow more, and allow states to borrow more but it is not willing to do so,” he said. “Wrong time to bring labour law changes by BJP-ruled States. Wrong precedent set by them,” the Congress leader further opined at AICC video Press conference soon after Sitharaman Press conference. He said in case of the credit guarantee fund, not the entire fund would be spent.
“The expenditure will be limited to the extent of NPAs in the outstanding guarantee credit to MSMEs. Assuming an NPA level of 20-50 per cent, the actual expenditure over the loan period (which may be years) will be a maximum of Rs 3,00,000 crore,” he said.
Mamata questioned about States getting nothing.”There is nothing in public spending, money transfer, and nothing for Covid,” she told reporters in Kolkatta minutes after Sitharaman shared details of the package. “It is eyewash, they are cheating the people. This is bulldozing federal structure, “ she said.
Leaders of eight Opposition parties, including five of Left parties, also staged a protest against dilution and annulment of labour laws by State Governments.
On the issue of labour laws, the leaders protest was a follow up to their joint representation to the President of India Ram Nath Kovind on belittling of labour laws, a few days ago.
They include Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M), D Raja (CPI), Sharad Yadav (LJD), and Manoj Jha (RJD), besides leaders of AIFB, RSP, CPI(ML), and VCK
Speaking at the protest venue, Yechury (CPI-M) said the Covid-19 pandemic was being used as an alibi to tamper with the labour which whittled the interest safeguards for labour force as a courtesy to the corporate lobby.
“Instead of making efforts to mount a united fight against the pandemic, efforts were made to polarise the society on communal lines,” Yechury said.
Speaking on similar lines, D Raja said, “The Government is indulging in witch-hunt and vendetta politics against those who took part in anti-CAA protests in Delhi.”