New Delhi: Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address to the nation, where he announced the extension of lockdown till May 3, Congress on Tuesday said that though the Prime Minister told what he expected from people, he did not spell out what his government is doing for the people.
In a press briefing, Congress leader Manish Tewari said, "We understand the inevitability of lockdown and hence the Indian National Congress supports the decision of extension. However, we want to point out that the PM told the nation what he expects out of the people, but he did not spell out the concerns of the people or what his government is doing for the people, something which we all wanted to hear."
Tewari further questioned the government over the plight of the migrant workers. "Those people all living in camps spread out in various parts of the country. They have completed their mandatory 14-day-quarantine. So, are you going to allow them to go back to their homes? Is there a calibrated plan to facilitate there travel?" he asked.
"Essentially, if someone has gone through the mandatory Quarantine period and is not showing any symptoms, does it not become the government's responsibility to facilitate their return? That's what we want to hear, what is the government doing about it," he added.
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Tewari also pointed out that the issue of the COVID-19 testing rate in India was also missing from the PM's address.
"So far there is no vaccine and so far the only medical treatment available is pre-emption and prevention, for which we require mass testing. What we have not heard from the PM is the government's strategy regarding testing. Will it be limited to hotspots or will there be a community level screening as it happened in Bhilwara?" he asked.
He also questioned the Centre's preparedness to protect the front line workers including doctors, nurses, health workers, among others, for whom there is a shortage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) in the country.
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PM Modi had also mentioned about the issues of farmers during the harvesting season of Rabi crops which will remain the focus of the government in the implementation of the second phase of lockdown in the country.
Manish Tewari put up a series of questions to the Centre: "What is the government's roadmap for harvesting? Are you going to allow people to go in the fields, carry out the harvesting? How will the harvest then be collected and taken to procurement centres? How will the procurement be facilitated, will the government pay a bonus over MSP?"
As per the current situation of the nationwide lockdown, the Congress leader demanded a bonus of ₹500 above the MSP of crops which used to be ₹100 earlier, for resolving the issue of stubble burning.
Tewari pointed out that the MGNREGA jobs have lowered to 1 per cent in April, of what they were in Feb-March of 2020. He asserted that the Government needs to plan a strategy to restore the supply chains and should also take an immediate action against the employers who are sacking their workers.
"These are extremely valid concerns beyond the larger question of revival of economy that the Prime Minister needs to address. 'Drip by Drip' approach of the government, regarding their announcements, to the Country is making people more apprehensive," he said.
