Lockdown 'botched-up', India deserves better: Prashant Kishor

Election strategist Prashant Kishor launched a blistering attack on the Union government's response to the coronavirus pandemic, alleging that lockdown has been badly implemented and there has been sub-standard treatment facilities for the needy.

New Delhi: Election strategist Prashant Kishor on Saturday slammed the Union government's response to the coronavirus pandemic, alleging that the lockdown has been "botched up" and there has been "non-existent" treatment and care facilities for people needing such services.

India's response to COVID-19 needs to get better, he said in a tweet.

"For all our optimism, the bitter truth is India's covid response needs to get better than just banking on a botched-up lockdown, less than 10 covid test per million & non-existent COVID treatment & care facilities for people needing such services. India deserves better," the former JD(U) leader said.

• For all our optimism, the bitter truth is India’s #covidresponse needs to get better than just banking on
  
  - a botched-up #lockdown
  
  - less than 10 #covidtest per million, &
  
  - non-existent #COVID treatment & care facilities for people needing such services.#IndiaDeservesBetter

  — Prashant Kishor (@PrashantKishor) March 28, 2020 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="

  For all our optimism, the bitter truth is India’s #covidresponse needs to get better than just banking on
  
  - a botched-up #lockdown
  
  - less than 10 #covidtest per million, &
  
  - non-existent #COVID treatment & care facilities for people needing such services.#IndiaDeservesBetter

  — Prashant Kishor (@PrashantKishor) March 28, 2020

  ">

  For all our optimism, the bitter truth is India’s #covidresponse needs to get better than just banking on
  
  - a botched-up #lockdown
  
  - less than 10 #covidtest per million, &
  
  - non-existent #COVID treatment & care facilities for people needing such services.#IndiaDeservesBetter

  — Prashant Kishor (@PrashantKishor) March 28, 2020

In his tweets, Kishor has been highlighting the hardships being faced by migrants following the lockdown and attacked official handling of their plight.

His constant criticism of the BJP and JD(U) president Nitish Kumar over the amended citizenship law and the measures like NPR and NRC had led to his expulsion from the Bihar party.

• Decision to #lockdownindia maybe right but 21 days might a bit too long. But then this is the price one pays for being behind the curve.
  
  With the shaky preparedness to deal with the #CovidCrisis and very little to safeguard the poor, we could be staring at some tough days ahead

  — Prashant Kishor (@PrashantKishor) March 25, 2020 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="

  Decision to #lockdownindia maybe right but 21 days might a bit too long. But then this is the price one pays for being behind the curve.
  
  With the shaky preparedness to deal with the #CovidCrisis and very little to safeguard the poor, we could be staring at some tough days ahead

  — Prashant Kishor (@PrashantKishor) March 25, 2020

  ">

  Decision to #lockdownindia maybe right but 21 days might a bit too long. But then this is the price one pays for being behind the curve.
  
  With the shaky preparedness to deal with the #CovidCrisis and very little to safeguard the poor, we could be staring at some tough days ahead

  — Prashant Kishor (@PrashantKishor) March 25, 2020

Following the announcement of a 21-day nationwide lockdown by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, Kishor had described the length of the shutdown "a bit too long" and taken a dig at the government, saying this is the price one pays for "being behind the curve".

(PTI Report)