Sonia, Rahul attack Central government

NEW DELHI: Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Friday demanded an all-party meeting on the coronavirus disease pandemic, accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of failing the people of India and announced that the Congress’ organisation would enhance its relief activities, even as party leader Rahul Gandhi wrote to the Prime Minister that the Centre’s failures at managing the pandemic’s second wave have made another “devastating national lockdown almost inevitable.”

In the first Congress Parliamentary Party meeting after the recent assembly elections where the party was decimated everywhere except in Tamil Nadu where it was the junior partner in the winning alliance, Sonia Gandhi said that a Congress Working Committee meetKerala ing will soon be called to review the results. “But it goes without saying that we as a party collective must draw appropriate lessons from this setback in a spirit of humility and honesty.” She congratulated Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, DMK chief MK Stalin and the Left parties for their “handsome victories” in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Kerala and said, “Most unfortunately, our own performance in all the states was very disappointing and if I may say, unexpectedly so.” The Congress failed to win Assam, and Puducherry, and drew a blank in West Bengal.

Underlining that the fighting Covid is not “a “Government versus Us” battle but a “Us versus Corona” battle,” she demanded that the PM should call an all-party meeting.

“Let us be absolutely clear – the system hasn’t failed. The Modi government has been unable to constructively channelise India’s many strengths and resources. I say this categorically -- India is crippled by a political leadership today that has no empathy for the people. The Modi Government has failed the people of our country,” Sonia Gandhi said in the CPP meeting.

Rahul Gandhi’s letter cautioned against the “uncontrollable spread” of this virus . He offered four suggestions to slow its spread: track the virus and its mutations, dynamically assess the efficacy of all vaccines against mutations, rapidly vaccinate India’s entire population, and remain “transparent and keep the rest of the world informed about our findings.”

Rahul Gandhi also demanded financial, food and transportation support. “I am aware that you are concerned about the economic impact of a lockdown... the human cost of allowing this virus to continue its march unimpeded will result in many more tragic consequences for our people than any purely economic calculations your advisors are suggesting,” his letter reasoned.

In the meeting, Abhishek Manu Singhvi gave suggestions such as the party should set up a fund by imposing a uniform “Congress Covid Charge” on all its members and the money can be used for medical activities. He also suggested creation of an IT portal and aid for poor people.

Sonia Gandhi ; Rahul Gandhi