New Delhi: Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate questioned the Covid-19 containment strategy of the Centre and also demanded answers on why the financial needs of poor are not being addressed.

Slamming the PM’s address to the nation, she said the country had great expectations from Prime Minister but instead of living up to our expectations, he once again belied them.

Full press release here:

The country had great expectations from the Prime Minister today he was after all addressing the nation but instead of living up to our expectations he once again belied them.

We had hoped that the Prime Minister will talk about substantive measures against Corona pandemic

We were hoping he was going to speak about the economic ruin and a blueprint to resolve it

We were hoping that he would speak about the 14 crore jobs lost and take a decisive step to create more jobs

We hoped he would talk about the wage cuts and talk about the restoration of salaries

We hoped he would talk about the 10 crore labourers who are now in the villages

We had really hoped that he would set aside his ego listen to the Congress and announce a Rs.7500 per month direct cash transfer to address the misery of our people

But most of all we had hoped that he would look at China in the eye and gather the courage for some tough talk.

But clearly, it was all much ado about nothing. In short that sums up the Prime Minister’s address. Despite all the euphoria and the massive build up, in his 17 minute long speech Shri Narendra Modi made, what at best is an administrative decision.

But what was shocking was the Prime Minister saying that the corona situation is under control kindly consider the following figures:

· Total number of Covid cases in India of 5.67 lakh
· India fourth highest number of cases in the world
· In June India has witnessed the highest global growth in Covid cases
· Almost 20,000 new cases are coming up every day
· Our test positive rate is at 11.4%

We are still testing the least in top 5 nations reporting Corona

So which are the figures that Prime Minister has based his argument on about things being under control is puzzling.

Coming to the statement today the Prime Minister Garib Kalyan Ann Yojna will be extended up until November. It is important to remember that this extension of scheme was suggested multiple times by Congress President Smt Sonia Gandhi in her letter to the Prime Minister. But there are two other big inferences to be drawn from this announcement – The PM expects corona impact to last till November and his various references to Chatth Puja and Bihar make it crystal clear he has only state elections on his mind. Does he realise people need milk, vegetables, medicine for which they need money and which is why direct cash transfer is the only means to address their misery and rescue the economy.

Since Corona, Modi Govt has taken:

1. $1 billion loan from World Bank
2. $1.5 billion loan from ADB
3. $4 billion loan in pipeline from IMF
4. ₹20,000 crore or more for PM Cares Fund
5. Doubled taxes on fuel
6. Increased market borrowing by more than ₹4 lakh crore because of Corona

Where is this money being used?

Why are states not being provided financial relief?

Why are poor not getting cash transfers?

The government has to get out of headline management and instead address the core issues that plague our country. Decisive steps and not empty words are required to deal with both corona and China