Sonia Gandhi criticises govt for 'unplanned' lockdown, calls for proactive steps

Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Thursday criticised government for "unplanned" implementation of countrywide lockdown that she said had caused "chaos and pain" to millions of migrant workers.

Calling for availability of all necessary equipment for medical professionals, she said onus lies on government to ensure that spread of infection and casualties are t caused owing to lack of infrastructure or preparedness.

Addressing a meeting of Congress Working Committee (CWC) through video conferencing, Gandhi said country was in midst of unprecedented health and humanitarian crisis which can be overcome only if everyone acts in solidarity.

" magnitude of challenge is daunting but our resolve to overcome it must be greater," she said, calling upon Congress governments, frontal organisations, leaders and workers to offer help to those at risk during pandemic.

Congress chief ted that COVID-19 crisis has caused suffering across world but it has also "reaffirmed bonds of brorhood" that unite humanity.

She said in India, poor and disadvantd have been most vulnerable to consequences of pandemic. "We must come toger for ir sake and do all we can to support m through difficult days that lie ahead," she said.

Describing as "heartbreaking" sight of lakhs of people walking for hundreds of kilometres without food or shelter, she criticised government for its "unplanned" implementation of nationwide lockdown and causing hardships to poor.

" 21-day 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," she ted.

She said that 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," she said.

Gandhi also called for provision of Personal Protection Equipment to doctors and paramedics "on a war footing", besides ventilators and breathing equipment, isolation beds and designated hospitals to treat COVID-19 patients.

" onus lies on governments to ensure that spread of infection and casualties are t caused owing to lack of infrastructure or preparedness," she said.

Congress president said 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, specially most vulnerable among us will define us for generations to come. Only if we act toger in solidarity, we will overcome," Gandhi said.

She also called upon Centre 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.

Highlighting plight of farmers who have faced wrath of inclement wear this season, she said y are w confronted with having to cope with harvesting season.

y urgently require availability of fertilizers and pesticides, access to easy lines of credit, forward guidance in preparing for planting of kharif crop, she said, calling upon government to provide remunerative prices for ir produce to survive present ecomic onslaught.

Gandhi said Medium and Small-Scale Enterprises are w gravely threatened as y have been hit hardest by ecomic fallout of coronavirus and related lockdown.

livelihood of crores of our citizens has been imperiled, she ted.

" government needs to put in place a comprehensive strategy to man this crisis," she said.

"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," she said, highlighting plight of workers in urganised sector.

Congress president also said middle classes are vulnerable amid w cuts, job losses across all sectors of ecomy, high petrol diesel and gas prices are causing m acute distress.

"I urge Central government to prepare and publish a Common Minimum Relief Programme," she said, adding that this is vital and will help alleviate several of concerns that currently afflict all people.