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PM failed to address migrants' woes in speech: Cong

May 12, 2020 23:41 IST

The Congress on Tuesday termed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address as one that gave the country a headline and said the nation is disappointed by his "failure" to address the woes of millions of migrants.

IMAGE: Migrants workers along with their families walk along a road during ongoing COVID-19 lockdown in New Delhi. Photograph: Manvender Vashist/PTI Photo

Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the mammoth heartbreaking human tragedy of migrant workers walking back home needed compassion, care and safe return.

"Dear PM, What you said today gives the country and the media a HEADLINE," he said on Twitter.

"When the 'blank page' is filled with 'Heartfelt help of people', the nation and Congress party will respond.

"India is deeply disappointed by your utter lack of empathy, sensitivity and failure to address the woes of millions of migrant workers," he said in a series of tweets.

His colleague Manish Tewari also tweeted, "PMs speech can be summed up in one word - HEADLINE HUNTING. A NUMBER -20 LAKH CRORES. NO DETAILS."

 

Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot, however, welcomed the financial package announced by the prime minister.

"The financial package announced by PM Modi ji was much awaited. Better late than never. We welcome this. Now when details emerge, we would know exactly how different sectors would benefit," he tweeted.

Another Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said his party had asked for a fiscal injection last month and gave comparative figures of other countries and bemoaned a measly 0.7 per cent of GDP.

"If substantially, concretely, new proposal is 10 pc of GDP, it would be great. Both God and devil lie in details, not available. 10 pc should be additional, not counting old pre corona schemes," he tweeted.

Congress spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill said, "Hoping that the Rs 20 lakh crore package is not scripted with same pen which was used to make the promises of giving everyone Rs 15 Lakh, cleaning 'Maa Ganga', bringing back black money in 100 days, transforming Varanasi into Kyoto and ending terrorism with demonetisation."

In a big push to revive the economy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday announced a Rs 20 lakh crore package, which combined the government's recent announcements on supporting key sectors as also measures rolled out by the Reserve Bank of India.

In a televised address to the nation, the prime minister said the details about the fourth phase of the lockdown will be made known before May 18, adding it will be different from the earlier phases.

TMC dubs PM's address 'incomplete and disappointing'

The Trinamool Congress termed Modi's address to the nation "incomplete and disappointing", saying there was no proper direction on how the financial package of Rs 20 lakh crores would be used and also what would happen after the third phase of the lockdown ends on May 17.

"Most of his speech was all about boasting about his government's so-called achievements. The address has been incomplete and disappointing. There is no clear direction about how this Rs 20 lakh crore would be spent.

"What will happen after May 17, there is no clear indication regarding it. He spoke about Lockdown 4.0, but what will be its structure nobody knows," veteran TMC leader and MP Sougata Roy said.

While delivering his speech, the prime minister did not spare a word about the ongoing migrant labour crisis, Roy added.

"Those labourers who have lost their jobs and are stranded, what they will do after returning home, there is no clear narrative about it," he said.

"The special economic package is for our labourers, farmers, honest taxpayers, MSMEs and cottage industry," the prime minister said in a televised address to the nation.

TMC Rajya Sabha party leader Derek O' Brien said, "We saw the wrapping paper but we don't know what's inside the package. Because he didn't announce the details. How will this money be raised, will the government borrow, will it raise taxes? The devil lies in the details of the package, for which we have to wait for one or two more days."

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