New Delhi: Soon after Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation on the prevailing COVID-19, the Congress called his speech "hollow".
The Congress party took a dig at him for placing the onus on state governments in tackling the pandemic.
In his television address to the nation, Modi said, "In today's situation, we have to save the country from lockdown. I appeal to the states that they should use lockdown as the last option. Try to avoid lockdown as much as possible. Focus on micro-containment zones."
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Reacting to his speech, Congress leader Rashid Alvi said, "The Prime Minister has disappointed the entire nation with his speech. He did not have any words to console the people."
"The Prime Minister laid the entire responsibility on the states and the people of India. It is unfortunate that he is speaking to the states and their Chief Ministers through television," he rued.
Alvi slammed Modi for not addressing concerns on the availability of vaccines, oxygen, beds in hospital and medicines. "When will he address these issues? His words were hollow. People are disappointed with his speech," Alvi said.
Congress Chief Spokesperson and General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala tweeted in Hindi -- which translates in English as, "The gist of tonight's speech: I'm incapable of anything. Passengers should protect their belongings by themselves."
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Former Union Minister and Congress MP Manish Tewari tweeted, "Sub text of @PMOIndia ‘s speech. Guys you are on your kind of on your own. If you are able to finally make it to the other side we will definitely meet again in some Utsav or Mahatsov. Until then all the best . May God be with you (sic)."
Modi, during his speech, urged the people to come forward and help the needy. "I appeal to the youth to make small committees in their localities to spread awareness about Covid-appropriate behaviour," he added.
AICC General Secretary Ajay Maken said Modi’s address to the nation was nothing but empty talk. "The nation is going through an unprecedented and deadly crisis. It is taking days to first get the tests conducted and then the results take another two to three days. There are no beds in hospitals, those hospitalized are not able to get life-saving drugs or something as basic as oxygen. Common drugs are being black marketed and most hospitals in the country have just hours of oxygen supply left. People are dying, crematoriums and graveyards can't accommodate them," he said.
He said migrant labourers were yet again forced into reverse migration as states were left with no option but imposing a lockdown.
"The Prime Minister addressed the nation in the middle of a full-blown catastrophe. He was expected to tell the nation as to what has the government done in terms of increasing beds in hospitals, increasing oxygen and streamlining supplies, making drugs like Remdesivir and Tocilizumab available, increasing the number of ventilators and enhancing vaccination. However, he chose to relinquish all his responsibilities and put the onus of saving India on NGOs, youth and Baal Mitras," Maken said.
