Congress President Sonia Gandhi convened a meeting with the chief ministers of Congress-ruled states on Wednesday, 6 May, to take stock of the situation after the third lockdown was imposed by the Modi government.
At the meeting Sonia Gandhi questioned the government on what would happen post 17 May. “What after May 17? What criteria is the Centre using to judge how long the lockdown will continue?” she asked.
Ex-PM Manmohan Singh too pressed on the need to have a clear plan post 17 May. He said, “We need to know what will happen after lockdown 3.0.”
Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot said that the need of the hour was a stimulus package. “Until extensive stimulus package is given, how will states & the country run? We have lost ₹10,000 crore of revenue. States have repeatedly requested PM for a package but we are yet to hear from the GOI,” he said.
Punjab CM Capt. Amarinder Singh said, “We have set up two committees, one to strategise on how to come out of lockdown & other on economic revival. Concern is people sitting in Delhi are deciding on classification of zones without knowing what’s happening on the ground.”
Bhupesh Baghel, CM of Chattisgarh added that most states are facing a ‘dire economic crisis’. “They need to be provided immediate assistance. Chattisgarh is one state where 80% of Small Industries have restarted & nearly 85,000 workers have returned to work,” he said.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi added that the elderly and people with ailments also need to be taken care of. He said, “The central piece of strategy to fight COVID-19 is to protect the elderly as also those who are diabetic & with heart condition.”
Sonia thanked the farmers of Punjab and Haryana for ensuring that there is food security with the bumper wheat crop.
(With inputs from PTI)
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