Left parties give thumbs down to lockdown

Ravi S Singh

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 30

On the eve of completion of the lockdown 4.0, heads of five Left parties on Saturday gave thumbs down to the way it was announced and implemented by the Union government, and sought cash transfer and ration to the poor affected by it.

The leaders include Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M), D Raja (CPI), Dipankar Bhattacharya (CPI-ML), Manoj Bhattacharya ( RSP) and Debabrata Biswas (AIFB).

“The lockdown has neither strengthened our capacities to combat the pandemic nor has it provided any required relief to the people to survive in these conditions,” they said.

They said lockdown imposition was “abrupt” and “unplanned” at just four hours’ notice.

They reiterated their demands which include a cash transfer of Rs 7,500 per month for a period of six months to all families outside the income tax paying bracket.

Also, they pitched for free distribution of 10 kg foodgrains per individual per month for six months.

A minimum of 200 days employment under MNREGA with enhanced wages and extension of the employment guarantee scheme to the urban poor figured in the list of demands.