COVID-19 lockdowns were a failure, says Ranjeet Ranjan

Talking to ETV Bharat, Congress national spokesperson Ranjeet Ranjan on Sunday said that the lockdowns have proved to be a failure as coronavirus cases are on the rise in the country. Ranjeet Ranjan also criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not announcing the lockdown dates beforehand.

New Delhi: As the country enters the fifth phase of lockdown, Congress national spokesperson Ranjeet Ranjan on Sunday remarked that the decision of lockdown was hurriedly taken by the central government- excluding the advice of opposition and other parties.

"The lockdowns have proved to be a failure as coronavirus cases are on the rise in the country. From migrant workers to businessmen, everyone is going through a tough time. The government should have closed all the 20 international airports," said Ranjeet Ranjan while talking to ETV Bharat.

"When the cases were few, the government was busy welcoming the US President Donald Trump and dethroning the government of Madhya Pradesh," continued Ranjan.

Ranjan also criticized the government for allowing the movement of migrant workers via trains as no concept of social distancing was seen being implemented.

"All the non-BJP-ruled states are being ignored by the government during this coronavirus crisis. Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Haryana, Rajasthan, etc still await assurance from the government," said Ranjan.

"Rahul Gandhi kept warning and cautioning the government to take the pandemic seriously even before the lockdown was announced," added Ranjan.

Ranjeet Ranjan also criticized Prime Minister for not announcing the lockdown dates before.

"The date of lockdown should have been announced in February, by then the migrants would have had enough time to return to their homes," stressed Ranjan.

When asked to comment on the massive financial package of Rs 20 lakh crore which was announced by Modi on May 12, Ranjan said, "This package is just another 'jhunjhuna' and is a scam. The government should deposit cash in the bank accounts of the poor population."