By Amita Verma

Lucknow, May 11 (IANS): Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee (UPCC) President Ajay Kumar Lallu has said that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath should have convened an all-party meeting to discuss the prevailing Covid-19 crisis.

In an exclusive interview to IANS, Ajay Kumar Lallu said: "It is unfortunate that the chief minister has not even sought the involvement of the opposition in dealing with the crisis. The opposition would have given its suggestion and helped in dealing with the situation.

"We are also people's representative and would have only helped the government. It is not right to ignore the opposition when Uttar Pradesh is facing a crisis situation."

However, he said, that it would not be right to convene an Assembly session in this crisis but an all-party meeting should be held without delay.

"As an opposition party, it is not proper for us to take to the streets at this time. We are following the protocols of an opposition party but the government should also learn to work in tandem with other parties. After all, there is nothing political about the pandemic," he said.

The UPCC chief said that Congress leaders at the Centre had been giving constructive suggestions and also pointing out the failings of the government.

"UP is the biggest state with a population of 23 crores. Almost every section of the society is affected by the Corona crisis. The chief minister is only giving out statistics everyday without realizing that the ground realities are different.

"I have written three letters in this regard to the chief minister but have got no response," he said.

Ajay Kumar Lallu said that districts like Lucknow, Noida, Agra, Kanpur, Firozabad and Rae Bareli were severely affected in the pandemic but the state government was not effectively dealing with the situation.

"The Agra model was being promoted by the state government but look at what is happening to Agra. Doctors, journalists, police personnel -- everyone has been hit by Corona," he said.

Replying to a question, he said that the Congress had been working at three levels in the prevailing crisis.

"We set up highway task force to help migrant workers who began travelling to their homes on foot. Then we set up Corona fighters' groups and a control room with a helpline. We have set up ‘Sanjhi Rasoi' in different districts and have given out food/food packets to over 47 lakh people so far," he said.

He said that the party had been trying to reimburse the railway fare paid by migrant workers who have arrived after May 5.

"We are asking the government to give us a list of those who have come by train but there has been no response," he said.

Talking about the situation in the post-Corona scenario, the UPCC chief said that the situation would worsen because of unemployment and the middle class would be the worst hit.

"The BJP should realize that all parties need to join hands and work out a strategy to save the people," he added.