Congress leader Rahul Gandhi today urged the government to reconsider its Rs 20 lakh crore package for the coronavirus-hit economy and warned the government of a “catastrophic problem” if it did not, instead, put money into the bank accounts of people worst affected by the outbreak and lockdown.
Addressing reporters via a Zoom video call, Mr Gandhi expressed “serious reservations” about what he said was a “package of loans” that did not provide immediate on-ground relief for farmers and migrants.
“Our people need money. Prime Minister should reconsider this package. Modiji should think about direct cash transfer, 200 working days under MNREGA, money for farmers, because they are the future of India,” Mr Gandhi said.
The Lok Sabha MP from Kerala highlighted the NYAY scheme proposed by his party while campaigning for general elections last year – which offered annual income support of Rs 72,000 to the poorest sections of society – and urged the government to come up with a similar plan.
“The migrant labourer walking on the street needs money, not debt. The farmer who is suffering needs money, not debt,” Mr Gandhi said, adding, “If we do not, this will become a catastrophic problem”.
Mr Gandhi made that same request of PM Modi this week, asking for direct transfer of “at least Rs 7,500” to the bank accounts of migrants left jobless by the lockdown. Earlier this month Nobel Prize-winning economist Abhijit Banerjee, in a discussion with Mr Gandhi, also made that point.
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