NEW DELHI, Jun 30: The Congress on Tuesday urged the government to get out of headline management and take "decisive steps, not empty words, to deal with both Corona an China."
Its spokesperson SupriyaShrinate told a Press conference that the Prime Minister belied the expectations in his address to the nation, except for what at best is an administrative decision to extend free supply of foodgrains to the poor. She said this was suggested multiple times by Congress President Sonia Gandhi in her letters to the PM.
She drew two inferences from Modi's announcement. One, the PM expects corona impact to last till November and two, his various references to Chhat Puja and Bihar make it crystal clear he has only state elections on his mind. "Does he realise people need milk, vegetables, medicine for which they need money and which is why direct cash transfer is the only means to address their misery and rescue the economy," she said.
Supriya said the Prime Minister belied the hopes that he will talk about substantive measures against Corona pandemic, speak about the economic ruin and a blueprint to resolve it, speak about the 14 crore jobs lost and take a decisive step to create more jobs, talk about the wage cuts and talk about the restoration of salaries, speak about 10 crore labourers who are now in the villages and he would set aside his ego to listen to the Congress and announce a Rs.7500 per month direct cash transfer to address the misery of our people.
"Most of all, we had hoped that he would look at China in the eye and gather the courage for some tough talk, but it turned out to be much ado about nothing," she stressed.
She said shocking was the Prime Minister's claim that the corona situation is under control and urged him to kindly consider the following figures:
-- Total number of Covid cases in India 5.67 lakh;
-- India fourth highest number of cases in the world;
-- In June India has witnessed the highest global growth in Covid cases;
-- Almost 20,000 new cases are coming up every day;
-- Our test positive rate is at 11.4%; and
-- We are still testing the least in top 5 nations reporting Corona.
Supriya said since Corona spread in India, the Modi Govt has taken:
1. $1 billion loan from World Bank
2. $1.5 billion loan from ADB
3. $4 billion loan in pipeline from IMF
4. ₹20,000 crore or more for PM Cares Fund
5. Doubled taxes on fuel
6. Increased market borrowing by more than ₹4 lakh crore because of Corona
She wondered where this money being used, why the states were not given financial relief, and why the poor were not getting cash transfers.
