Rahul suggests cash transfer, urges govt to rework ₹20 lakh crore package

Urging the Centre to reconsider its economic stimulus package worth ₹20 lakh crore, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday (May 16) said the Union government should stop offering the people credit, instead of depositing money into their bank accounts.

During an online interaction with journalists of regional media, Rahul said Prime Minister should rethink about the package and consider the direct transfer of cash into bank accounts of the people, extending the number of working days under MNREGA to 200 and offer money to farmers as they are the future of India.

If demand was not generated in the country, the Lok Sabha member said, the economic losses would be bigger than the losses created by the COVID-19 pandemic. Rahul urged the Centre to act smart while lifting the nationwide lockdown so that it did not affect the old people and others vulnerable to the disease.

Dismissing the claim of Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal that several states, including ones ruled by the Congress, were not granting permission for special trains to enter their states, Rahul said it was the Congress that suggested this idea. He asked the Centre to take care of the needs of migrants and ensure that they return to their states safely.

Stating that the Union government must play the managing role, Rahul said states must lead the country’s battle against COVID-19 and must receive the support from the Centre. The Congress leader said the Centre must offer money to the people for by temporarily implementing a scheme like that Nyuntam Aay Yojana or Nyay that was proposed by the Congress in 2019 election manifesto.