Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Jun 2: "Because of the failure of the government in using its discretion properly, the entire country is in turmoil. The government has made the lives of workers miserable," former union minister and senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, said. He was addressing a press meet at the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee office on Monday June 1.

He cited the government's action of tightening the rules when the infection was within control, and relaxing the same when the situation is going out of control, as examples of foolhardy decisions of the government. He accused the government of not extending any help to workers who were in distress, and allowing small and medium industries to close down. "The country has eight crore workers of which six crore are migrants. Agriculturists are facing problems as their products do not have consumers who do not have purchasing power. Because of the failures of Modi government, employment opportunities have been lost. The government erred in not sending migrant workers by trains which were moving freely before declaring lockdown," he said.

Kharge pointed out that 560 people had died when walking, going by bicycle etc without food because of lockdown. He said railways had miserably failed to respond to the situation. He also said that the package of Rs 20 lac crore announced by Modi is like a mirage which cannot be accessed by anyone. The only noteworthy achievement of the Modi government is distribution of masks and publishing photos thereof through the media, he felt.