Govt messed up lockdown: Sonia
22 OPPN PARTIES’ MEETING
Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Friday regretted that the government was uncertain about the criteria for imposing lockdowns, nor does it have an exit policy while the successive lockdowns yielded diminishing returns as the PM’s initial optimism to conclude war against the coronavirus has turned out to be misplaced.
In introductory remarks to leaders of 22 parties invited for discussions through video-chat, she said the government stumbled badly on the testing strategy and import of test kits as the pandemic continues to take a toll while the economy has been gravely crippled. “That the present govt has no solutions is worrying; but that it has no empathy or compassion for the poor and vulnerable is heartbreaking. The government has also abandoned any pretence of being a democratic government. All power is now concentrated in one office, the PMO. The spirit of federalism which is an integral part of our Constitution is all but forgotten. There is no indication either if the two Houses of Parliament or the Standing Committees will be summoned to meet.”
Noting every economist had advised an immediate need of a massive fiscal stimulus while the grand announcement of Rs20 lakh crore package by PM on May 12 and the FM spelling out its details over the next five days, have turned out to be a cruel joke on the country.
“Far from offering succour and support, the government has embarked on a wild adventure of so-called reforms including a grand clearance sale of PSUs and repeal of labour laws. There is not even a pretence of consultation with stakeholders or debate in Parliament. We deplore the unilateral moves.”
Sonia said: “The defining image of the pandemic has been the lakhs of migrant workers, many with children, walking hundreds of kilometres, without money, food or medicines, desperate to reach their home states.”
She underlined India is already facing an economic crisis even before the first virus cases were identified as the economic downturn began in 2017-18, demonetisation and a hasty and flawed GST being among its main causes.
“The country and its people are already in the midst of a grim struggle for survival combating the Covid-19. A natural calamity like Cyclone Amphan has come as a double blow, breaking the spirits of the people,” the resolution said, adding people in the two states urgently need the support and solidarity of govts and people of the country.”