'India is crippled by the political leadership that lacks empathy', says Sonia Gandhi

Slamming the Central government for not tackling the ongoing pandemic properly, Congress President Sonia Gandhi alleged that the ignorance of the government's fundamental duty has forced the country to suffer the deadly pandemic. She also claimed that the Modi government’s 'inequitable' vaccination policy will exclude millions of Dalits, Adivasis, OBCs as well as the poor to get a shot of the vaccine on time.

New Delhi: Congress President Sonia Gandhi, on Friday, made a scathing attack on BJP Government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that it has 'abdicated' its fundamental duties and responsibilities at a time when people are suffering due to covid-19 pandemic. These remarks were made during the Congress' Parliamentary Party meeting which was being called by Sonia Gandhi to get to know all the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs about the situation of Covid-19 in their respective constituencies and what steps are being taken by them to tackle the crisis.

Making a sharp remark, she attacked the Government, "Let us be absolutely clear, the system hasn’t failed. The Modi government has been unable to constructively channelize India’s many strengths and resources. I say this categorically, India is crippled by a political leadership today that has no empathy for the people. The Modi Government has failed the people of our country."

She said in her opening statement, "India is in the grip of a deadly health disaster. Thousands have died and millions are scrambling to access basic healthcare, life-saving medicines, oxygen, and vaccines. It is heartbreaking to see people battling for their lives in hospitals, on roads, waiting in vehicles, far too many for want of any medical help at all."

While attacking the Center, the Congress President mentioned that the government's own Empowered Groups and its National Task Force for COVID-19 had warned about the second wave, urging it to plan and prepare for it and even the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and opposition parties had raised serious concerns regarding our preparedness, saying, "Yet, earlier this year the Prime Minister arrogantly boasted that he had defeated the pandemic and his party obediently felicitated him for his so-called success."

She added, "It failed to place sufficient orders for vaccines in time to meet the needs of our people. Instead, it consciously chose to allocate thousands of crores for non-essential projects that have nothing to do with the peoples’ well-being."

Taking down the UP Government, Gandhi alleged, "Instead of helping desperate patients, some BJP governments have been using the state’s repressive power to arrest people merely for crying out for help. They are cracking down on citizen groups who are trying their best to help. They are also compelling social media platforms and the media to obfuscate the truth and ignore the pleas of desperate citizens."

Mentioning that Parliament had allocated Rs 35,000 crores in the union budget to ensure free vaccines for all, she alleged that the Modi government has placed the burden on already stretched state governments by allowing differential pricing for vaccines and also refused to enforce compulsory licensing to increase the production of the vaccine.

She also claimed that the Modi government’s "inequitable" vaccination policy will exclude millions of Dalits, Adivasis, Other Backwards Classes, as well as the poor and the marginalized.

Stating that various suggestions and requests have already been made by former PM Dr Manmohan Singh and the Chief Ministers of Congress-led states, Sonia Gandhi said, "Unfortunately, these helpful initiatives have fallen on deaf ears. The government has made no meaningful response and continues to believe that it alone has the answers."

She added, "The situation brooks no delay. Tackling this crisis requires able, calm and visionary leadership. The nation is sinking under the weight of the Modi government’s indifference and incompetence. This is a time for us to steel ourselves and rededicate ourselves in the service of our people."

Appreciating the efforts being made by Indian Youth Congress and the party's state units, the Congress Chief asked all MPs to make efforts to organize ambulances, temporary beds, oxygen concentrators and necessary medicines.

She demanded the Government to convene an All Party Meeting and Standing Committee Meetings to ensure collective action and accountability to combat the pandemic better, saying, "The Congress Party firmly believes that fighting Covid is not a “Government versus Us” battle but a “Us versus Corona” battle. This battle transcends political differences. We have to fight this battle together as a nation."

She even asked the Leader of Opposition, Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge to bring the Report of Standing Committee on Health presented in October 2020 into the notice of the Presiding Officer, demanding that he take action on the recommendations of that Report.

On Assembly Election Results, Sonia Gandhi accepted party's performance in all the states was "very disappointing" and "unexpectedly" so.

She mentioned that the Congress Working Committee will meet shortly to review the results and also asserted that collectively, the party must draw the appropriate lessons from this setback in a spirit of humility and honesty.