Rahul expresses reservations on govt eco package, says govt should put money directly in hands of poor

New Delhi, (thestates.news) Expressing reservations over the economic package announced by the government, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday called on the government to put money into the bank accounts of migrant workers and other people who have been severely hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Addressing reporters via video conferencing, Mr Gandhi said, “I have serious reservation about the nature of economic package government has given. Prime Minister should reconsider this package.The 20 lakh crore package of the government lacks demand generator. No point is giving loans to MSME if there is no demand.
‘Modiji should think about direct cash transfer, 200 working days under MNREGA, money for farmers, because they are the future of India.
Mother India needs to give money to its children in the time of this crisis.’
Mr Gandhi also said the package announced by the government only offers loans and it will not revive the demand.
‘To fire demand, we need to directly transfer cash,’ Mr Gandhi said.
‘When a child is hurt, the mother protects her children. She doesn’t give a loan. That’s what pains me as a citizen,’ he said.
Referring to the NYAY scheme mooted by the Congress in the Lok Sabha polls last year, which offered annual income support of Rs 72,000 to the poorest sections of society, the Congress urged the government to come up with a similar plan.
‘The migrants workers who are walking home with empty stomach, the farmers…they don’t need loans, they need money. We must support them.
If we do not, this will become a catastrophic problem,’ he said.
Accusing the government of being oblivious to the plight of migrants Mr Gandhi said,’Biggest migration since independence is underway, triggered by policies divorced from India’s ground realities and Ignoring the needs of our most vulnerable, who have been left to fend for themselves. Yet govt hasn’t shown any plan to help them.’
‘Migrant labourers have to be brought home safely, they are still walking on foot. I have requested the government to test them and bring them home safely,’Rahul said.
Mr Gandhi said that in the medium term, small and big industries should be given a boost by providing them financial support.
‘There is a need to generate employment locally in states like Bihar. There should be a national strategy for employment,’ he said.
Refuting Railway Minister’s allegation of not giving NOC to trains in Congress governed states, Mr Gandhi said, ‘Railway Minister’s allegation of not giving NOC to trains in Congress governed states is wrong. Congress Party and Congress President were the first who had talked about giving rail fare to labourers.’
He said that he was confident that the government will listen to his suggestions ‘I am confident that the government will listen to my suggestions because, it’s not just my voice alone. Rather, this is the thinking of many people I have spoken to,’ Rahul said.(uni)