New Delhi, Apr 9 (IANS): After the government announced the Rs 15,000 crore Covid-19 emergency response and health system preparedness package, the Congress, here on Thursday, raised the issue of "stimulus package" to the industry, which was facing closure due to lockdown.

Stating that no financial stimulus package has been announced to support industries during the lockdown, it said when the second financial package would be announced.

The Congress said as per the Assocham estimate the industry needed Rs 15-23 trillion support. The FICCI has put the figure at Rs 9-10 trillion.

Remarking that the Prime Minister "is betraying," the Congress raised questions over export of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) to the US.

"Before giving in to the US President's threats and allowing export of HCQ, did the Prime Minister Narendra Modi take stock of the situation in India and the pharma companies involved in manufacturing these medicines? Did he put India first," the Congress said.

The Rs 15,000 crore package "will be implemented with the objectives of emergency Covid-19 response, strengthening national and state systems, procurement of essential medical equipment and drugs, strengthening of surveillance, including setting up of laboratories and bio-security preparedness," the letter addressed to the Additional Chief Secretaries, the Principal Secretaries and the Commissioners of state and Union Territories, said.