The Congress on Tuesday termed PM Modi’s address to the nation, announcing extension of the current lockdown to May 3 as rhetoric and hollow on specifics, saying there was no mention of a financial package or concrete steps to revive the economy.
Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi in a tweet said, “Amazing #PM address. Exhortation, rhetoric, inspiration…..yet hollow on specifics! No financial package, no details, no concrete item. Neither 4poor nor middle class nor industry nor businesses. #Lockdown is good bt cannot be end in itself! Where is single livelihood issue?”
“#Pm address wo single specific and wo guidelines is like #Hamlet wo #Prince of #Denmark. Like #PM wo details! We want increased #GDP allocation; specific targeted monetary injections; #Keynesian spending; loosen #FMRB etc. not a single word!” Singhvi said.
He said the PM Modi be assured that all stakeholders will do their duties and will strictly observe lockdown.
“After this: should we pray? We want concrete palliatives for these deprived classes and even for middle india and MSMEs,” Singhvi said.
“Cry, my beloved country,” said former Finance Minister and Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram.
“The poor have been left to fend for themselves for 21+19 days, including practically soliciting food. There is money, there is food, but the government will not release either money or food. Cry, my beloved country,” Chidambaram tweeted.
“CMs’ demand for money elicited no response. Not a rupee has been added to the miserly package of March 25, 2020 From Raghuram Rajan to Jean Dreze, from Prabhat Patnaik to Abhijit Banerji, their advice has fallen on deaf years,” Chidambaram added.
Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram Shashi Tharoor said, while he supports the extension of the lockdown, “can’t discard the gains being made but PM Modi should have also announced serious relief for those who cannot make ends meet”.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today morning announced the extension of lockdown till May 3 to curb spread of the coronavirus.
He said the extension of lockdown was decided keeping in mind suggestions from many states, experts and the people.
