Rahul cautions PM against disastrous consequences of total lock down

March 29, 2020
New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday cautioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi against unilateral shut down of all economic activity as part of corona lock down, saying it would multiply the death toll from Covid-19.

While expressing solidarity with the Prime Minister in his efforts to contain the pandemic, Gandhi said It was important that the government consider a nuanced approach that takes the complex realities of Indian people into consideration.

”Millions of India’s elderly live in villages. A complete lockdown and the resulting shut down of our economic engine will almost certainly ensure that millions of unemployed youth rush back to their villages, increasing the risk of infecting their parents and the elderly population living there. This will result in a catastrophic loss of life,” he said in a letter to Modi.

The Congress leader underlined that it was critical to understand that India’s conditions are unique and here the Government will be required to take different steps than other large countries who are following a total lockdown strategy.

”The number of poor people in India who are dependent on a daily income is simply too large for us to unilaterally shut down all economic activity. The consequences of a complete economic shut down will disastrously amplify the death toll arising from the Covid-19 virus,” he said.

The Congress leader called for immediately strengthening the social safety net and use every public resource to support and shelter the working poor. He said large population centres will require big dedicated hospitals with thousands of beds and ventilators, and so it was s critical that the country started setting up these structures and manufacturing the equipment that would be required, as fast as is humanly possible.

He also underlined the urgency of dramatically increasing the number of tests t to get an accurate picture of the spread of the virus and to contain it.

”The sudden lockdown has created immense panic and confusion. Factories, small industries and construction sites have closed, tens of thousands of migrant labourers are trying to walk home to their villages and are stranded at various state borders. They are rendered totally vulnerable without their daily wages or access to nutrition and basic services. They are struggling to reach far away homes and seek refuge. It is important that we help them find shelter and provide them with money directly into their bank accounts to help them tide over the next few months,” he said.

”We stand together with the government in fighting and overcoming this tremendous challenge,” he said.
–India News Stream