Cong sets up corona task force

■ Aims to intensify efforts to deal with virus in states ruled by party

The Congress on Saturday constituted a task force to intensify efforts of partyruled states to deal with the situation due to Covid19 and help mitigate the sufferings of people.

The task force includes P. Chidambaram, Jairam Ramesh, Tamradhwaj Sahu and M. Veerappa Moily.

“Congress president has constituted a task force to intensify the efforts of Congress-ruled state governments to deal with the situation prevailing on account of COVID-19, in a coordinated manner,” said an official communication from the party.

The members of the task force will start work immediately with the respective Congress-ruled state governments to ensure that the daily distress and suffering of people is mitigated, the statement said.

“P. Chidambaram, Jairam Ramesh, Tamradhwaj Sahu and Veerappa Moily, i.e, the chairmen of respective manifesto implementation committees in the Congress ruled states will be its members,” the Congress communication

added. The Congress has been criticising the Centre for not initiating enough measures to mitigate the sufferings of the poor and marginalised, who are facing hardships in view of the countrywide lockdown declared by the Prime Minister.

Attacking the Central government for the massive migration workers from Tier-1 cities, Congress leader Rahul

Gandhi, in a tweet, said, “It is a very big crime to do this to citizens.” Also attached in the tweet were two pictures of massive gatherings of migrant workers who have currently camped at various state borders outside Uttar Pradesh in an attempt to return to their respective villages. Rahul Gandhi also said, "Our brothers and sisters should at least get dignity in these times of crisis. The government should act fast to stop this from developing into a bigger situation.”