Lockdown has created panic, confusion, Rahul writes to PM

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 29

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi today wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to adopt a nuanced approach against Covid-19 spread arguing against a blanket shutdown of all economic activity, as is underway.

Expressing solidarity with the government, Rahul said, “It is critical to understand that India’s conditions are unique and India will be required to take different steps than other large countries that are following a total lockdown strategy.”

“The number of poor people in India who are dependent on daily income is simply too large for us to unilaterally shut down all economic activity. The consequences of a complete economic shutdown will disastrously amplify the death toll arising from the Covid-19 virus,” he said in his letter.

Gandhi suggested a nuanced approach that takes “complex realities of Indians into consideration”.

“Our priority must be to protect and isolate the elderly and vulnerable from the virus and to clearly and strongly communicate to the young the dangers of proximity to older people,” he said, adding, “I suspect that the government will eventually extend this even further.”

The former Congress president reasoned that millions of elderly live in villages and a complete lockdown of economic engine will ensure millions of unemployed youth rush back to villages, increasing the risk of infecting their parents and the elderly population living there.

“This will result in a catastrophic loss of life,” he said, seeking social safety net and use every public resource to support and shelter the working poor.

Gandhi also said the government needs to “dramatically increase the number of tests to get an accurate picture of the spread of the virus and to contain it.”

On shutdown he said it had created immense panic and confusion.

“Factories, small industries and construction sites have closed and thousands of migrant labourers are trying to walk home to their villages and are stranded at various state borders. They are rendered totally vulnerable without their daily wages or access to nutrition and basic services. They are struggling to reach far away homes,” Gandhi wrote saying they should be sheltered and money put into their bank accounts.

The Congress leader also said, “It is critical to set up a defensive wall around key financial and strategic institutions to protect them from the shock wave that is bound to come as the true impact of the virus and our economic shutdown hits us a few weeks from now.”