Centre must lay down road map for exit strategy for lockdown & reviving economy, says Congress

New Delhi, (thestates.news) Questioning the Government about its ‘Exit Strategy’ for the COVID-19 Lockdown, Congress on Saturday said the Centre must lay down the road map for reviving the economy.
Addressing a media briefing through video-conferencing, Congress Chief Spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said,’ 130 crore Indians want to know as to what is the aim of Lockdown 3.0? What is the purpose, the objective and the strategy?’
He said nation witnessed Lockdown 1.0, then Lockdown 2.0 and is now seeing Lockdown 3.0.
‘Will there be a Lockdown 4.0 and Lockdown 5.0 in the future? When will it end completely?,’Surjewala said and wondered whether the Government has an exit policy for the lockdown.
The Congress leader said the Home Ministry issued an order late last evening imposing Lockdown 3.0 up till 17th May.
‘Neither did the PM come forward nor did he address the Nation. The Home Minister also did not come forward. So much so that not even a single officer of the Government of India chose not to make an appearance. Nation got only an official order of MHA,’ Mr Surjewala said.
‘Nation was neither informed nor illuminated. Nation wasn’t acquainted of the way ahead or enlightened about the time limit. Neither did a conversation take place on the humongous difficulties nor on multiple challenges.
No one heard the ‘Mann Ki Baat’ of fellow Indians nor did we hear Modiji’s ‘Mann Ki Baat’ and there was no one to answer lakhs of questions, doubts and apprehensions,’ the Congress leader said.
Posing a series of questions to the government, Mr Surjewala said, ‘What is the goalpost to deal with Coronavirus and economic pandemic by 17th May? What are the achievable goals by 17th of May as decided by the Modi Government to deal with the infection, livelihood challenges and huge economic crisis?’
Mr Surjewala further asked that what concrete and positive steps will be initiated by 17th of May?

‘What is the thought and policy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the Nation? What is the road map, not only for harvesting and grant of MSP to the farmers but also for sowing of the next kharif crops and availability of fertilizers, seeds, and pesticides?
What are the arrangements for ensuring livelihood and ration for over 40 crore urban and village poor and labourers? What is the relief package for 4.25 crore MSMEs generating 11 crore employment? How do you propose to ensure ‘jobs & pay protection’ for middle class and salaried people?,’he asked.
The Congress leader asked that what is the strategy for revival and restarting the Tourism and Hotel Industry, Textile Industry, Construction Industry, Automobile and IT Industry, Transport and Aviation Industry
and other such sectors’?
He also asked government on the timeline for safe and time bound return of nearly 8 to 10 crore migrant labours.
Talking about the Congress Party’s seven solutions, Mr Surjewala said Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi and party leader Rahul Gandhi have repeatedly spoken about immediate announcement and
implementation of ‘Financial Action Plan Part-2’ and have written a number of letters to the Prime Minister
giving concrete suggestions.
He said Modi Government should ensure free travel in sanitised trains of lakhs of stranded migrant labourers within a period of 15 days. This should be treated as the first responsibility of the Government.
Mr Surjewala said India’s poor-labourers-farmers be given Rs 7,500 through DBT in the Jandhan Accounts, PM Kisan Yojana Accounts, MGNREGA Labourers Accounts.
He said a similar amount should be deposited in the account of every senior citizen-widow-physically handicapped person.
He said in addition thereto, 10 kg food grains (wheat or rice), one kg pulses and half kg sugar be given per person per family for sustenance.
The Congress leader said farmer’s entire crops should be procured at MSP and payment made within 24 hours.
Entire outstanding amount, be it of the sugarcane farmers or other farmers be cleared within seven days.
‘All recoveries of the farmers should be deferred for one year and interest waived,’ he said.
He also suggested that a ‘Rs 2,00,000 Cr Salary & Credit Package’ should be given for 4.25 crore Micro, Small & Medium Industries (MSMEs).
He said ‘Job & Pay Protection Package’ be ensured for the entire middle class and salaried class so that rampant termination of jobs and unprecedented cut on salaries can be checked.
The Congress leader said Corona testing should be increased multiple times and Personal Protection Equipments (PPEs) be immediately provided to the doctors, nurses and health workers besides giving them special financial package. Similar benefits be extended to police personnel, safai karamcharis and those engaged in essential services.
He said the Government should put an immediate stop on the wasteful expenditure.
‘Prime Minister Narendra Modi should put an embargo without delay on the Rs 20,000 crore Central Vista Beatification Project, Rs 1,10,000 crore Bullet Train Project, Purchase of Special Aircraft worth Rs 8,458 Crore for travel of the Prime Minister, besides cutting wasteful expenditure by 30 per cent.
The money so saved should be utilised for giving a Rs 1 lakh crore package to the States to fight Corona and its after effects as also sector specific packages,’ he said.
‘The fight against Corona will be fought unitedly and not in a unitary fashion,’ the Congress leader added.(uni) (mediasaheb.com)