PM’s speech Hamlet without prince, rhetoric without roadmap: Cong

The Congress while agreeing with the Centre’s decision of extending the lockdown due to coronavirus, on Tuesday (April 14) termed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address to the nation as mere rhetoric, as it made no mention of a financial package for the poor, concrete steps to revive the economy or roadmap to deal with the COVID-19 crisis.

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram tweeted, “The poor have been left to fend for themselves for 21+19 days, including practically soliciting food. There is money, there is food, but the government will not release either money or food. Cry, my beloved country.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday announced that the lockdown across the country will be extended till May 3 to fight the coronavirus pandemic, saying the measure has produced a significant outcome in containing the infection.

Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said Modi’s address was like Hamlet without the Prince of Denmark.

Related news: Lockdown extended till May 3, easing of curbs only after assessment: Modi

“Amazing PM address. Exhortation, rhetoric, inspiration…..yet hollow on specifics! No financial package, no details, no concrete item. Neither for poor nor middle class nor industry nor businesses. Lockdown is good but cannot be end in itself! Where is single livelihood issue,” he asked.

He said the PM be assured that all stakeholders will do their duties and will strictly observe lockdown.

“After this: should we pray? We want concrete palliatives for these deprived classes and even for middle india and MSMEs,” he said.

Just ahead of the prime minister’s address on Tuesday, Congress president Sonia Gandhi in a video had urged people to follow lockdown norms and take necessary measures like ensuring social distancing and using masks to keep the infection at bay.

“There is no bigger patriotism than sticking together in this time of crisis,” she said in her speech in Hindi.

(With inputs from agencies)