Modi’s lockdowns have failed, says Rahul Gandhi; BJP hits back

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday (May 26) said the four-phased nationwide lockdown imposed by the Centre to curb the spread of COVID-19 has “failed” in its purpose and not given results that Prime Minister Narendra Modi expected.

Addressing a virtual press conference that was live-streamed on his Twitter account, he asked the central government to clarify its strategy as far as opening up of India is concerned and how it intends to support migrants and states.

“What is the central government’s plan to go forward as the disease is growing exponentially in the country,” he said. “The four stages of lockdown have not given the result that the Prime Minister expected,” he said, adding that it is pretty clear that the aim and purpose of lockdowns have failed in India.

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“Two months ago, the PM said that we are going to fight a 21-day fight against COVID-19. It was his expectation that we would defeat the virus in 21 days,” he said.

He said India is the only country in the world which is relaxing the lockdown when the virus is “exponentially rising”.

Gandhi also reiterated his point that the country needs an injection of money and capital right now to tide over the economic crisis and unemployment.

The Congress leader who a few days back was seen speaking with migrant labourers on a Delhi highway, said they told him that they have lost faith in the system.

He suggested that the government should give should workers at least ₹7,500 every month.

Gandhi’s comment comes on a day when the country’s COVID-19 count touched 80,722 cases. Nearly 7,000 cases were reported on Monday (May 25) alone.

However, the BJP rejected Gandhi’s statement that the lockdown had “failed” in its purpose, saying the doubling rate of COVID infection has fallen to 13 days from three before the lockdown, which, it asserted, is a “success” for India.

BJP leader and Union minister Prakash Javadekar said the Modi government’s decision to impose the lockdown has ensured that India suffered much less than countries like the US, France and Spain.

He took a swipe at the Congress, saying it is doing politics at a time when the nation is fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.

“India’s efforts to combat coronavirus have drawn praise from the world over but attracted opposition from the Congress,” he said.

“Rahul Gandhi’s press conference today is an example of the politics the Congress is doing. What he said is wrong as well. The COVID-19 doubling rate was three days before the lockdown and it is 13 now. This is India’s success,” Javadekar said.

He said the Congress earlier asked why the lockdown was imposed and is now raising questions again when it is being relaxed. “This highlights double-speak and hypocrisy of the Congress,” the senior BJP leader said.

On Gandhi’s demand that the Centre give cash to the poor, he said BJP-ruled states like Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka have given cash to migrants and asked which Congress-run state has done so.

Citing various welfare provisions of the the Centre, including five month free ration for over 80 crore poor, transfer of ₹2,000 to nine crore farmers and ₹500 to 20 crore women, and free gas cylinders to eight crore households, Javasekar said these measures in real term are more than ₹7,500 demanded by Gandhi for the poor.

“People don’t like such negative politics. The country is speaking in one tune and the Congress has struck a different chord. That is why the party is becoming disconnected with people,” he added.

(With inputs from agencies)