Congress cheers Rahul’s call for united virus fight
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, yesterday offered constructive suggestions to the government and said though he had serious disagreements with the prime minister it was not the time to fight.
Addressing the media via video link, the former Congress chief said despite disagreements he didn’t want “to get involved in a blame-game as the country was fighting a tough battle against coronavirus. We will be successful in containing this with everybody working together,” Rahul said.
Congress leaders later heaped praise on Rahul.
“He is currently doing what the prime minister should be doing i.e. participating in a full-blown video press conference taking unscripted questions on way forward,” tweeted Abhishek Singhvi.
Singhvi said, “It’s is pertinent to mention that in almost all vibrant democracies, the top leadership have given press conferences during this #Covid-19 #Lockdown. In India, Rahul is doing an unscripted press conference while Modi is appearing in short scripted videos.”
Rajiv Satav, Congress member of the Rajya Sabha, said, “Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has spelt out a clear, strategic path India should adopt to fight #Covid-19 together. It is time now for PM. @narendramodi to step up, hold a PC and take Questions on India’s preparedness.”
Earlier, addressing a ‘virtual’ press conference Rahul said that this was not the time to fight with the government but provide constructive suggestions in the fight against coronavirus.
Rahul said that while he differed with the prime minister, “I don’t want to get involved in a blame game as the country is fighting a tough battle against the virus and we will only be successful in containing it when everybody works together.”
“There should be no declaration of victory, it is a long fight. I disagree with PM Modi on a lot of issues but we have to unite and not fight. We have to defeat the virus together.
“We are in a very serious situation, that is clear. I think all political parties and the people of India have to work together if we want to solve the problem and defeat the virus,” Rahul said.
“It is possible that the structure of our democracy changes, but our priority is to defeat the virus,” and we know how to bring the democratic norms back,” he said.
He suggested the prime minister listen more to the chief ministers.
“Our strength to fight Covid-19 is at state and district level. Success in Wayanad has been due to district level machinery. So, I suggest that the approach to fight against Covid should not be top-down but bottom-up. The prime minister should empower states,” Rahul added.
He said, “the Congress will give constructive suggestions, it’s up to the government to listen or not to listen.”
“Let’s forget what has happened so far with testing. But we are in an emergency situation now. All of India needs to fight this together. We have to work not by adopting weak methods but with a strategy.”