CPI calls PM Modi's COVID-19 emergency finance package as 'meagre'

Communist Party of India on Wednesday reacted to financial pack of Rs 15,000 crore for healthcare in wake of Coronavirus pandemic, anunced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and called it very little.

" National Secretariat of  Communist Party of India is of strong view that financial pack of Rs 15,000 crore for healthcare in wake of Coronavirus pandemic, anunced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for strengning of personal protection equipment for medical professionals, increasing isolation wards and ICU beds and for training of medical and paramedical manpower as very mer," CPI said in a statement.

Communist Party has accused Modi government of approaching pro-rich, pro-corporate policies. "Party considers that Modi government which has been pursuing pro-rich, pro-corporate policies and giving massive concession to m including cutting down corporate tax must w show some concern for poor people by imposing COVID-19 tax on all corporates and high-net-worth taxpayers so that poor hit by lockdown get some relief. A state like Kerala has allotted Rs 20,000-crore financial pack," statement res.

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"It may be ted here that if Centre's allotment is distributed among its states, it comes to a meagre sum of around Rs 500 crores for each state. Rar than making a ritual pack, government should have anunced a comprehensive ecomic pack and allotted more funds to meet requirements," statement ded. Party also accused Prime Minister of t anuncing any relief pack for poor and unemployed and said: "With total lockdown, daily w earners and unemployed will t be able to have minimum essentials," it ded. 

In its statement, CPI also asked Narendra Modi heed central government to learn something from Centre. " Party wants government to be more sensitive to poorer section of people and accordingly raise allotment manifold, drawing lesson from LDF government of Kerala," it said. 

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PM Modi anunces 21-day pan-India lockdown

Amid rising Coronavirus cases in India, PM Modi on Tuesday, anunced a 21-day lockdown throughout India starting at midnight on Tuesday. He said that 21 days were necessary for breaking transmission cycle of pandemic. 21-day curfew applies to all states, districts, and vills - irrespective of wher y are currently under curfew or t. 

During his Tuesday dress to nation, Prime Minister Modi also anunced an emergency financial pack of Rs 15,000 crore for healthcare - strengning of personal protection equipment for medical professionals, increasing isolation wards and ICU beds, and for training of medical and paramedical manpower.

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(with inputs from ANI)