New Delhi, Jul 29 (IANS): The Indian Youth Congress (IYC), here on Wednesday, staged a protest against the Centre accusing it of not being serious about handling the Covid-19 pandemic as the number of cases had crossed 15 lakh.

The protesting IYC workers at the Connaught Place were donning personal protective equipment (PPE) and holding the placard that read, "15 lakh aa gaye" (15 lakh has arrived), referring to the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) 2014 poll promise of transferring Rs 15 lakh into each voters account by brining back the black money stashed abroad.

The protest comes in the wake of India crossing the 15 lakh coronavirus cases-mark on Wednesday morning. With 48,513 fresh cases, India's Covid-19 tally reached 15,31,669 with 34,193 fatalities.

Speaking to the media, IYC national president Srinivas B.V. said, "The central government is not at all serious about the pandemic. That's why the number of cases has crossed 15 lakh." The country was witnessing 3.7 per cent rise in cases a day, he added.

"It (BJP) came to power saying people will get Rs 15 lakh cash in their accounts, but due to the central government's attitude 15 lakh Covid-19 cases have been reported," he said.

While Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was warning about the pandemic, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was inviting the Covid-19 disaster by organising Namaste Trump in Ahmedabad and Agra, the IYC leader said.