Congress asks PM to define lockdown exit strategy


New Delhi, Apr 26 (IANS): Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's interaction with the Chief Ministers via video link on Monday, the Congress, here on Sunday, demanded to know about the post-lockdown plan and the exit roadmap.

Addressing the media, senior Congress leader Manish Tewari said the lockdown had been there for more than a month, but there had been no clarity on a number of issues. "The lockdown can't continue for long. We hope the Prime Minister will unveil some national plan to the Chief Ministers."

Under section 23 of the Disaster Management Act, the states couldn't make their plans until a national plan was finalised.

Tewari said the government didn't anticipate the Covid-19's magnitude and took some steps in haste. But now the government must know what could happen, he added.

Tewari questioned the veracity of the Covid Task Force Chairman's claim that there would be no coronavirus case after May 16.

The Congress spokesperson said the biggest human crisis was that of migrant labourers, and added, around 41 lakh labourers were in shelter homes and another 99 lakh being fed by NGOs. The government should chalk out a plan to send labourers back to their homes and disclose the steps taken so far.

He also demanded to know about the second financial assistance package. "What the government is waiting for," he said.

Urging the government to step up testing, it said why there was a cap on 39,000 tests a day. It could be scaled up to 100,000 tests a day, Tewari said.

  

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Comment on this article

  • Ramesh, Udupi

    Mon, Apr 27 2020

    Do you think they had one when they started lockdown. Rather then lip service they have no clue how to run this country during crises.

    DisAgree Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • prem, moodbidri

    Sun, Apr 26 2020

    Don't ask central govt for any strategies, you will get negative and mocking answers from them!

    DisAgree [2] Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • Sahil, Mangaluru

    Sun, Apr 26 2020

    Because of congress Era reserve fund we survived. Congress got all the rights to ask....

    DisAgree [6] Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • smr, Karkala

    Sun, Apr 26 2020

    With industries shut during the lock-down, job losses could push about 176 million people who earn below US$1.90 a day further into poverty. Despite repeated assurances by different sectors and a request by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, job loss and salary cuts are hitting Indians hard.

    India may lose Rs 8 lakh crore of GDP to lock-down. The extension till May 3 will inflict an economic loss of USD 234.4 billion, Barclays has said.

    There are about 11 crore non-farm wage earners, 6 crore self-employed and 2.5 crore salaried workers with insecure jobs (according to CMIE).

    The state governments’ revenues have suffered massively. The Centre should release the held-up amount of approximately Rs 30,000 crore of GST compensation. It should also release the instrumental of Rs 56,000 crore of the states’ share in central taxes.

    Add their numbers to the 12 crore who lost their jobs after lock-down and we are staring at a figure upwards of 15 crore. In sum: we could be looking at 15-20 crore Indians who face or may soon face livelihood crisis.

    It time to think away from 'clapping' and 'lighting candle' to handle the worst crisis yet to come. If there is no proper exist strategy, support program for unemployment, health care system, PDS system and so on it will be national catastrophe in waiting.
    Jai Hind

    DisAgree [1] Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • Harsha, Mangaluru

    Sun, Apr 26 2020

    At the difficult time like this where Crores of people lost jobs & life on the way of destruction,govt should provide free rice to all the needy/poor workers who lost jobs and also cash rs2000 p.m without red tape to hang on to the life.People do pay income tax & GST for all goods to the govt &now Govt should support the jobless at this tough time. God Bless

    DisAgree Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Manan, Mlore

    Sun, Apr 26 2020

    Congress should think themself
    Otherwise it wl vanished from Indian politics
    Its a already in single digits in some state
    Seriously think about leadership
    Hanging with one family destroyed the grand ols party

    DisAgree [12] Agree [11] Reply Report Abuse

  • R.Bhandarkar, Mangaluru

    Sun, Apr 26 2020

    You come with a strategy in states under your rule and the let the CMs
    inform the PM accordingly.
    So also the other CMs of different states on 27 April.
    Why tearing hurry ?
    How come under strict Lockdown in Mumbai ...Monks were killed by a frenzied mob and goons attacked selected journalists in the dead of the night ? You already have a strategy ..Is it ?

    DisAgree [8] Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Sun, Apr 26 2020

    Lockdown began with a Thali Dance ...

    DisAgree [6] Agree [11] Reply Report Abuse


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