Rahul Gandhi says 'lockdown' not the solution for coronavirus crisis

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying that India needs to have more testing centres in order to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic. He also emphasized on the need for quick action saying that lockdown is not the solution to the coronavirus crisis.

New Delhi:Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday strongly pitched for aggressively expanding coronavirus testing across the country and adopting it as a 'strategic' instrument to 'defeat' the pandemic.

He hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying that lockdown is not the solution to the coronavirus crisis as the country lacks enough testing centres and kits.

"Lockdown is just a pause button. It is not a solution to defeat COVID-19. Our biggest weapon is testing. If we want to fight this virus we need to track it, isolate it and then we can defeat it," said Rahul Gandhi.

He further added said that this is possible only if testing is scaled up to get the right numbers.

Gandhi went on to say, "Supply of testing kits is limited, therefore we will have to find a way out of this. We cannot fight coronavirus without testing nets."

"Without kits, hotspots and non-hotspot areas cannot be distinguished from each other, thus increasing cases," said Rahul Gandhi.

The Congress leader said that testing is the main weapon against the virus and that chasing the virus not the solution. He went on to say that the centre need to handover more power to the states so that they can fight against the pandemic.

Rahul Gandhi further elaborated on the following issues:

• Food shortage is inevitable
• Buffer stock should be provided to people, especially belonging to the weaker sections
• Prepare a safety net in terms of food security
• Manual labourers should be provided with benefits
• Don't destroy the country's economy in the name of the virus
• Power should be decentralised to states
• More interaction between states and the PM required
• Other countries are not as complicated as India, therefore India specific plan needed

The leader constantly stressed on food supply being a critical issue. He said that people who do not have ration cards should also be provided with help. He went on to say that there is no shortage of buffer stock in the country.

However, he hit out at the government saying, "India is the only country in the world which is attempting lockdown with a huge migrant population."

Rahul also appreciated PM Modi's style and said that he hopes he works it out well. When asked where did the PM go wrong, he said he will answer that after India beats the coronavirus.

He further added saying that COVID-19 cannot be controlled it has to managed, "Only if the virus is managed can it be fought back."

Rahul Gandhi insisted that the government needs to be compassionate to people's needs and situation

He said, "Complete lockdown in a slums not possible, which makes the lockdown in India different from that in other countries. Without quick action, there will be social unrest in the country. We need to be more liberal about the money we are giving out to people. Penny-pinching should not be done now."

While on one hand, he expressed concern for the elderly, on the hand, he said that the young and middle-aged population of India also prone to respiratory diseases. Therefore, an attack on these age groups is also possible.

The Congress leader said that India can win the war against COVID-19 pandemic with unity. He added that caste, creed and religion are of no importance at this point.

Addressing the citizens of the country, Gandhi said that they need not worry about the pandemic.

"This country is bigger than any disease. We have seen bigger challenges in the past and have overcome them. But we must not deal with the virus with fear," he said, further adding that the "coronavirus is giving out the message of unity and we must adhere to what is required to be done, that is, dealing with everything with confidence."