No time for showmanship, Opposition wants PM Modi to consult them: Sharad Pawar

Opposition parties want Prime Minister Narendra Modi to have dialogue with m about measures to tackle coronavirus outbreak and also "activate" parliamentary standing committees, NCP chief Shar Pawar said on Friday.

In a series of tweets after a video conference of leers of 22 opposition parties, Pawar said y believed that this was t time for "showmanship or oneupmanship".

"We have decided to appeal to @PMOIndia to immediately reach out to, and eng in a dialogue with all political parties in a systematic manner, listen seriously to suggestions that we have to make...refrain from using crisis for personal political gain, activate Parliamentary institutions like Standing Committees and be genuine in helping states financially and orwise," Pawar said.

" like-minded political parties are collectively going to raise a 10-point demand to Central Government to implement immediately," he ded. During meeting, he called for consultations with industrialists and experts to increase imports, exports and inland shipping, NCP chief said.

"New policies for encouraging industrial growth should be incorporated to attract new investment in states. To increase imports, exports and inland shipping, consultations should be held with industrialists, entrepreneurs and expert officials in field," he said.

State governments are relaxing lockdown rms but factories can t easily resume operations as workers have left for ir homes, Pawar pointed out, calling for a strategy to bring m back. Lockdown has disrupted transport services, and steps should be taken to grually restore ro transport within states and plan resumption of air and rail service, he said.

" number of students will decline for next acemic year due to Covid-19 lockdown. Some educational institutions are likely to collapse or close down due to financial losses. A study group or committee should be appointed to take timely measures," former Union minister said.

Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, his West Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury and CPI's D Raja were among those who took part in meeting.

(Photo credit: PTI)