BH CORRESPONDENT, New Delhi: As India continues to fight against coronavirus, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi urged the people of India not to bow to this painful crisis. “Let us stand united in braving this challenge. Together, we will overcome this,” she said in a statement.
The Congress chief has asked the people to stay at home unless urgency and exigencies demand otherwise. She had a special message for the elderly and the children.
“Testing is the key to prevention. In a nation of 130 crore, only 15,701 samples are reported to have been tested so far. Despite ample time, early warnings and lessons from other nations, we appear to have underutilised our public and private sector capacities. This must change. We must begin by testing all cases under surveillance and expand to all other symptomatic cases and those coming into contact with the ones testing positive,” Mrs Gandhi said in a statement.
“Equally alarming are reports that there is artificial shortages & black marketing of hand sanitizers, face masks & even liquid soap. It is the bounden duty of the Govt to ensure adequate supply and take corrective action. What is more unnerving is the fact that prices of essential commodities like vegetables, pulses, rice, etc seem to be rising unchecked daily,” said Mrs Gandhi in the statement.
India will not bow to this painful crisis. Let us stand united in braving this challenge. Together, we will overcome this: Congress President Smt. Sonia Gandhi’s statement on fighting the Coronavirus pandemic.#BJPFightCoronaSeriously pic.twitter.com/KZsWTGSWA3
— Congress (@INCIndia) March 21, 2020
Mrs Gandhi said COVID-19 has impacted agriculture sector, daily wage earners, MGNREGA workers, ad-hoc and temporary employees, labourers, farmers and those in the unorganised sector.
“Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. A comprehensive, sector-wise relief package needs to be announced forthwith by the government, including necessary tax breaks, interest subvention and deferment of liabilities. For the salaried class, the government and the RBI must consider a deferment of EMIs,” the Congress chief said.
