The interim president of the Congress Party, Sonia Gandhi questioned the government on the decision of extending the lockdown. She has questioned the criteria that made the government take the decision.
In an address where she was talking to the Chief Ministers of the Congress-ruled states, Sonia Gandhi asked the question about the next plan after the end of the third phase of the lockdown on the 17th of May. Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the former president of the Congress Party Rahul Gandhi were also present in the meeting.
Randeep Surjewala, the official spokesperson of the congress party, quoted Sonia Gandhi in the video conference and said,
“After May 17th, What? And After May 17th, How? What criteria is the Government of India using to judge how long the lockdown is to continue?”
In the video conference, Sonia Gandhi expressed her gratitude to the farmers of Punjab and Haryana especially for making sure that there is food security by proving the wheat crop produce despite the tough situations. Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh backed Sonia Gandhi’s statements and said,
“We need to know, as Soniaji said, what will happen after lockdown 3.0? Soniaji has already pointed out. Chief Ministers need to deliberate and ask as to what is the strategy of the government of India to get the country out of lockdown.”
Chief Ministers express concern
Captain Amarinder Singh, the Chief Minister of Punjab, who was present at the meeting announced that his government has set up two committees that will focus on the exit plan of the lockdown. While one committee will strategize on how to come out of the lockdown, the other will focus on economic revival, he said. He further added,
“Concern is people sitting in Delhi are deciding on the classification of COVID-19 zones without knowing what’s happening on the ground.”
The Rajasthan Chief Minister, Ashok Gehlot raised the question of survival of the state government until the extensive stimulus package arrives. He also claimed that the state has incurred a loss of Rs. 10,000 crore. Similarly, the Chattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said that the economic crisis in the state is dire and immediate assistance is to be provided.
