Punjab sought 1 lakh rapid testing kits, got only 10,000 of Chinese make: Capt

Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 23

Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Thursday said resources of Rs 4,400 crore of GST have still not been released by the Central Government.

Speaking at the Congress working committee meeting, he said,  “In place of 1 lakh rapid testing kits, we have received only 10,000 of Chinese make. Their authenticity is to be tested still.”

Congress president Sonia Gandhi addressed the party’s working committee meeting and accused the BJP of spreading communal hatred when the country should be fighting the Covid together.

“It should worry every Indian that when we should be tackling the corona virus united, the BJP continues to spread the virus of communal prejudice and hatred. Grave damage has been done to our social harmony. Our party will have to work hard to repair that damage,” Sonia said at a virtual CWC meeting days after a mob lynching incident killed two sadhus and a driver in Maharashtra’s Palghar leading to a war of words between the BJP and Congress.

She criticised the government on all fronts saying the government was clueless about the post May 3 strategy, testing hadn’t been enhanced and protective gear for doctors was inadequate and of poor quality. The Congress chief also said the poor and migrants continued to be the worst hit and 12 crore jobs had been lost in the first phase of the lockdown.

”Since our meeting three weeks ago, the pandemic has increased disturbingly - both in spread and speed. The lockdown continues and all sections of society continue to face acute hardship and distress—particularly our kisans and khet mazdoors, migrant labour, construction workers and workers in the unorganised sector,” she said, adding that trade and industry had come to a halt and crores of livelihoods destroyed.

Gandhi said the Central Government did not appear to have a clear idea on how the situation will be managed after May 3.

“A lockdown of the present nature after that date would be even more devastating,” she said to a meeting attended by former PM Manmohan Singh and other senior CWC members including Rahul Gandhi.

Mentioning her letters to the PM, Sonia said her suggestions had been implemented partially and in a miserly way.

”Unfortunately, the suggestions we gave have been acted upon only partially and in a miserly way. The compassion, large-heartedness and alacrity that should be forthcoming from the Central Government is conspicuous by its absence,” Sonia alleged.

She called for focus engaging with health, food security and livelihood issues. 

On testing, Gandhi said it still remained low and testing kits are still in short supply and of poor quality.

“PPE kits are being provided to our health care workers but the number and quality is poor. Entitlement of foodgrains under the National Food Security Act has not yet reached the beneficiaries,” she said.

Gandhi reiterated the Congress demand of providing 10 kg of foodgrains, 1 kg of pulses and half a kg of sugar to each person of the family every month.

Flagging 12 crore job losses in the first phase of the lockdown, she said unemployment was likely to increase further as economic activity remained at a standstill.

“It is imperative to provide at least Rs 7,500 to each family to tide over this crisis. Migrant labourers are still stranded, jobless and desperate to return home. They have been hit the hardest. They must be provided with food security and a financial safety net,” the Congress chief said.

She demanded necessary facilities to farmers for the next round of kharif crops which will begin in the coming two months and a special MSME package since the sector employs 11 crore personnel and makes up one third of the GDP. 

Gandhi also alleged that funds legitimately owed to “our” (Congress-ruled) states had been held back.

Join Whatsapp Channel of The Tribune for latest updates.