Congress Working Committee discusses Coronavirus situation: Read Sonia Gandhi's statement

Amid 21-day lockdown to contain vel coronavirus pandemic, Congress Working Committee (CWC), highest decision-making body of Congress, on Thursday met through video conference to review government's response to COVID-19 crisis. CWC meeting started at 11 a.m. During meeting, Congress interim Chief Sonia Gandhi said that "magnitude of challenge before us is daunting but our resolve to overcome must be greater".

Read full statement here:

Friends, We meet today in midst of unprecedented health and humanitarian crisis. magnitude of challenge before us is daunting but our resolve to overcome it must be greater. COVID-19 pandemic has already caused untold suffering across world, but it has also reaffirmed bonds of brorhood that unite humanity. In our country, those who are most vulnerable to consequences of this pandemic are poor and disadvantd. We must come toger for ir sake and do all we can to support m through difficult days that lie ahead. 21 days National LockDown may have been necessary but unplanned manner in which it has been implemented has caused chaos and pain in lives of millions of migrant workers all over India.  

It has been heart-breaking to see lakhs of people walking for hundreds of kilometres towards ir vills without food or shelter. It is duty of us all to do our utmost to lessen ir suffering. I wish to thank all those who are offering m help, our workers, civil society and people who have shown ir kindness and compassion to m.  As far as COVID-19 virus is concerned, re is alternative to constant and reliable testing. This is most effective way to combat it. Our doctors, nurses, and health workers need all support possible. Personal Protection Equipment such as hazmat suits, N-95 masks, etc. must be provided to m on a war footing. Equally important are Ventilators and breathing equipment, isolation beds and designated hospitals to treat COVID-19. onus lies on Governments to ensure that spread of infection and casualties are t caused owing to lack of infrastructure or preparedness. 

I would like to request Government to publish and make available details of designated hospitals, number of beds, quarantine and testing facilities, as well as information regarding availability of medical supplies to general public. Farmers, who have faced wrath of inclement wear this season, are w confronted with having to cope with harvesting season. This, at a time when entire country has been locked down. y urgently require availability of fertilizers and pesticides, access to easy lines of credit, forward guidance in preparing for planting of Kharif crop. Above all proper remuneration, prices are essential for m to be able to survive present ecomic onslaught it. 

Medium and Small-Scale Enterprises are w gravely threatened. y have been hit hardest by recent events. livelihood of crores of our citizens has been imperilled. government needs to put in place a comprehensive strategy to man this crisis. Close to ninety per cent of our fellow Indians toiling in Urganised Sector are also extremely vulnerable. ecomic consequences of pandemic threaten to destroy ir livelihood. y are already facing tremendous hardship due to hunger and lack of health facilities. As a nation, we owe m our full and constructive support. middle classes too are vulnerable. W cuts, job losses across all sectors of ecomy, high petrol diesel and gas prices are causing m acute distress. If this was t eugh, while EMIs have been deferred, interest subvention or relief has been provided. This offsets entire purpose of deferment. 

I urge Central Government to prepare and publish a Common Minimum Relief Programme. This is vital and will help alleviate several of concerns that currently afflict all people. I urge our Congress governments, frontal organisations, our leaders and workers to step forward and offer ir help to those families who are at extreme risk. We must take immediate measures to guarantee adequate shelter, food and medicines to as many of m as we can. COVID-19 does t differentiate between political ideology, religion, caste, or . choices we make today will have a direct impact tomorrow on our family, neighbourhood, community, environment and nation. How effectively we meet this challenge, how we protect all sections of our society, especially most vulnerable among us will define us for generations to come. Only if we act toger in solidarity, we will overcome. Jai Hind!

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