New Delhi: The Congress on Sunday said lighting lamps alone will not help win the war against coronavirus and demanded answers from the government on the safety of health workers in the absence of adequate protective gear.
The party also said lifting of lockdown should not be done in an unplanned manner as its implementation.
“Just as lockdown alone cannot fight coronavirus, lighting alone cannot help. Merely lighting a lamp will not help win the war against coronavirus. If the Government of India does not fulfill its duties, it is not possible to fight the war against coronavirus, Congress spokesperson Sushmita Dev said at a press conference through video conferencing.
“There has to be proper planning and provision of personal protection equipment (PPEs) to those fighting this war. There is also the need for an economic package for the poor and vulnerable,” she said.
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Highlighting the absence of enough protective gear for the medical workers dealing with COVID-19 cases, Dev said at least 50 doctors have been infected by the deadly virus.
She also sought to know when would the Centre provide compensation to those who have died due to coronavirus, as she said state governments were not financially equipped to provide the same.
“Hundred people have died so far, will the central government give compensation to their families? These are some questions which we ask in national interest and not in criticism of the government,” she said.
Asked if the Congress supported lifting the lockdown, Dev said it is for the government to decide.
“We only hope it is not done in an unplanned manner as the lockdown was imposed the sacrifice of people and the hardship faced by them for the last 21 days should not go waste,” she noted.
The Congress leader also alleged that against the demand of 62 lakh PPE kits, only 3.34 lakh kits are available for doctors and paramedical staff at present.
“If we cannot protect our doctors, nurses, technicians and other paramedical staff who are in the forefront of fighting this war against coronavirus, then this country is not prepared for this fight, Dev said.
Accusing the government of delaying by five weeks issuing orders for allowing manufacture of PPEs locally in the absence of guidelines till March 24, she said the 50 doctors who contracted the disease could have been averted.
She also asked if the government has approved any agencies to test these PPEs manufactured locally.
Dev also questioned the government on increasing the number of ventilators required in the country, as only 40,000 of them are available, of which 20,000 are not working properly, according to reports.
She also called for large-scale testing to curb the spread of the disease.
“We cannot be successful in this war against coronavirus unless the government increases the scale of testing,” the Congress leader said.
The number of COVID-19 cases rose to 3,374 on Sunday and the death toll stood at 77 in the country, the health ministry said.
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Some Congress people are becoming wise. It is good sign for our country and its democracy. But alas ! Period required for this political quarantine is some four five decades. Will your party survive four/five decades of deprivation and hunger pangs of power for so long ? Even, The journos parroting your party line are more ridiculed than respected .
Only Congee stupids can think that Covid-19 can be won only by lighting lamps. One of the reason for Congress rout is its turning of facts upside down. Nobody can save a political party of such stupid people.
There are some who believe that MODI will not be there for all times to come.
And when the Prince comes back it will be our time, in the meantime blame Modi for not correcting our screw-ups.
Raising issues of absence of protective gear, safety of health workers and economic relief for the poor, all that was available till 2014, has Modi sold it and kept the money in some tax haven ?
OR was the money meant for these things never spent over 70 years and siphoned out to the private accounts of the leaders of those years?
Hopefully we will know, the onion peals are come out now.
Lady, be smart,like the Maharaja, heritages do not last for ever.
The very first sentence here is sufficient to reject out of hand, this blabber from Congress, which is taking its cue only from what “The Family” thinks about it, and not logic. From Modi himself to the lowliest person in the Government or party, NO ONE has even hinted that “Lighting lamps ALONE will win the war against CV”. Could they not see with their own eyes that ALL of the services relating to the treatment and eradication of CV was still going on? Congress is highly Negative and, except for a few voices, CERTAINLY NONE from any of its vaunted “Family”, Congress talk simply has to be ignored.
Congress party is now a congregation of stupid people.
Yes.. 3 generations of minority appeasement by Cong has damaged our country beyond repair… Will Cong wake up or do something opposite…. When Rahul claiming to be a natl. Leader, he should have sent sanitisers to all constituencies across India, not just Amethi…. He suffers from selective amnesia….
Yeah…Ask the Italians…!!
Mam i agree with ur statement but slightly correction in ur sentence instead of not only lighting Lamp, totally lighting lamps is useless and waste. Narendar Modi doesn’t shine or spoke as a nation prime minister
The pseudo national Congress party doesn’t have any agenda other than criticism of Modi government. We are thankful to God for not having Congress government during Corona crisis, else it would have been a major casualty of humanity.
Whatever best is to be done Modi is doing round the clock. I urge all fellow citizens not to bring their faith in between this crisis. All have to come together to save India & our citizens from this deadly Virus.
No one should criticize the steps/remedies suggested by PM other than medical steps since Modi has understanding of our rich culture & heritage where everyone including animals are respected.
JAI HIND.
Not reading too much in to a token response coming from a nearly dead family outfit.
That said, once Corona has been done with, India will have fewer people infected and dead than the west. Largely this would be attributable to a combination of the following:
Luck, God (Hanumanji to Lord Vishnu), Modi, Science, warm weather, diya, candles, clapping at the door front, industry support, public support, growing manufacturing base…..
And that’s India 20 years in to the 20th century.
21st century I mean
we know very well that Congress government can handle in proper way to this situation.
Congress government only know how to maintain their bank balance. how to make corruption. how to cheat peoples and bla bla. we know in Congress period many ghotalas are there, one more ghotala will be added that is COVID-19 ghotala.
Why do congress have spokesperson who has no knowledge of ground reality. What is wrong with The Print, just to please their party they throw some junk for readers.
This ecosystem has been carefully nurtured and fed for 60 years, it will not dismantle in 6 years. We the common people will eventually dismantle it but it will take some time. Don’t forget these people are all daily wage laborers for Rahul baba and his gang.
HaHa. Looks like the Congress lives in cloud cuckoo land. It doesn’t seem to have noticed that measures have been put in place to control Covid-19. No wonder it has no clue on how to appeal to voters and win elections.