Congress and 21 other opposition parties on Friday trained their guns against the Modi government at Centre for its alleged failure to save economy or lives during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Leaders of 22 parties, including Congress, TNC, Shiv Sena and others, held a meeting via video conferencing on Friday. In a joint statement after the meeting, the parties said that while they back the Union government in its efforts to beat the pandemic, it has failed “in discharging its responsibilities in a timely, effective and sensitive manner”.
“Grand announcements have been made but they do nothing meaningful to alleviate the sufferings of people and address the pressing concerns of farmers and farm labour, of migrant and other workers, of trade, commerce, MSMEs and industry. In fact, the Union government has unabashedly usurped powers vested in the States undermining the constitutionally guaranteed federal democracy,” the joint statement said.
The parties, in their statement, said that this was not the time to indulge in showmanship or one-upmanship. “It is important that the Government of India reaches out and engages in a dialogue with all political parties in a systematic manner, listen seriously to the suggestions that we have to make, activate Parliamentary institutions like Standing Committees and be genuine in helping the states financially and otherwise,” it said.
In the meeting, the opposition parties drafted 11 demands to be put forward the Centre:
Direct Cash Transfer of Rs 7,500 per month to all families, outside the Income Tax bracket, for six months. Rs. 10,000 to be paid immediately, with the balance being paid equally across the remaining five months.
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