Not seeing smooth, concrete movement towards unlocking of economy: Rajeev Bajaj

10:53 June 04

Rajiv Bajaj: "On the one hand, the porous lockdown makes sure that the virus will still exist. So, you have not solved that problem, but you have decimated the economy, you flattened the wrong curve. It is not the infection curve, it is the GDP curve." 

10:30 June 04

Rahul Gandhi: When will you start opening up your supply chain?

"I have not seen a rhythmic movement of unlocking. A kind of aligned approach is requested from the authorities. The kind of fear we have created in the first place is stuck in the minds of people. We have to move forward. I am really distressed about this fear. PM should give a clear narrative of our future strategy regarding the spread of the infection. People still think infection means death, it is a herculean task to open up. To get this fear out of the mind of people there has to be a clear narrative from PM because when he says something people seem to follow," says Rajiv Bajaj. 

10:27 June 04

There is a difference in speaking with Media and Rahul Gandhi: Rajiv Bajaj

"Maybe people have a fear of hiding something. Some people just don't want to speak due to fear of backlash. Indians are very open. We demonstrate more openness. We are very open as a country. This should never be lost."

10:17 June 04

We are not talking about stimulus, we want support: Rajiv Bajaj

Why have we not chosen to put more money in the hands of people?

Rahul Gandhi said that he got these four logic behind the economic stimulus:

1. There is a huge opportunity for India in regard with China.
2. If we give a handout to labourers now, they will get spoilt.
3. This will convey a wrong message to international community.
4. We will consider handing out more money in the hands of people after some time.

10:13 June 04

Listen to the countrymen

Rahul Gandhi: "India had a two month pause button. States are now implying their own strategies. This should have been done in the first hand. The central thing in my view is to be compassionate and listen to the countrymen, they will automatically tell you what to do."

10:09 June 04

We look West not East: Rajiv Bajaj

"When the rich and famous get affected, it becomes a headline. Primarily the sensation was due to the affluent people in developed countries were vulnerable. I think unfortunately India not only looked West it went to the wild West, we stayed more towards the impervious side. We tried to implement a hard lockdown which was still porous."

09:58 June 04

Rahul Gandhi: "Nationwide Lockdown is a unique and devastating phenomena." 

09:37 June 04

Rahul's chat with industrialist Rajiv Bajaj to be aired shortly

New Delhi: Rahul Gandhi's dialogue with industrialist Rajiv Bajaj on the economic fallout of the COVID-19 crisis will be aired on Thursday, the latest in the series of deliberations the former Congress chief is having with experts from various fields on the impact of the pandemic.

In the teaser of the conversation released on various social media accounts of the party, Gandhi, citing experts, is seen talking about the fear of the coronavirus disease, which, if spreads once, is difficult to get rid of.

In the teaser, Managing Director of Bajaj Auto, Rajiv Bajaj, is seen talking about the effect of the lockdown on the economy.

The conversation will be aired at 10 am today.

"The virus is waiting to hit you, so you have not solved that problem, but you have decimated the economy. You have flattened the wrong curve -- not the infection curve but the GDP curve. This is what we have ended with -- the worst of both worlds," Bajaj says.

The first such dialogue was held on April 30 when Gandhi discussed the coronavirus pandemic and its economic implications with former Reserve Bank of India governor Raghuram Rajan.

He then held a conversation with Nobel laureate Abhijit Banerjee who had said India should come out with a large enough stimulus package to revive demand.

The former Congress chief last week spoke to globally renowned public health experts -- Professor Ashish Jha of Harvard Global Health Institute and Swedish epidemiologist Johan Giesecke.

"Tomorrow, Thursday, 4th June, 10 AM onwards, join my conversation with Mr Rajiv Bajaj on the Covid crisis, across all my social media platforms," Gandhi said on Twitter.

(With inputs from PTI)