The centre must also consult states, the parties agreed, accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government of "usurping" the power of states.
22 opposition parties attacked the
centre's response to COVID-19 crisis and put out a charter of demands
New
Delhi: In a show of unity that has
been rare in recent times, 22 opposition parties in an online meeting called by
Congress president Sonia Gandhi attacked the government's response to the
coronavirus crisis and put out a charter of demands that include direct cash
transfer of Rs 7,500 for the poorest, transport for migrants and a
"genuine" economic package.
The centre must also
consult states, the parties agreed, accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's
government of "usurping" the power of states.
"This is neither the
time for government at the centre to indulge in showmanship nor one-upmanship.
This is the time for a gigantic collective endeavour. This is what the people
of India need, and this is what the people of India demand," said a
statement by "like-minded parties".
Opposition parties
represent over 60 per cent of India's people, they reminded.
Bengal Chief Minister
Mamata Banerjee, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and former Prime
Minister HD Deve Gowda were among those who joined the Zoom conference but
Mayawati, Akhilesh Yadav and Arvind Kejriwal were notable absentees.
The opposition parties
called for a lockdown exit strategy, commenting that the government had failed
in its responsibilities. They also called for a new financial package, saying:
"The Rs 20 lakh crore package and its contents mislead the people of
India. We demand that government present a revised and comprehensive package
that will be a true fiscal stimulus in order to stimulate demand in the
economy."
The opposition's demands
include:
·
Direct cash transfer of Rs.
7,500 a month for six months. Rs 10,000 to be paid immediately, rest over five
months
·
Free distribution of 10 kg
food grains to the needy for the next six months. Increasing MGNREGA work days
to 200
·
Free transport for migrant
workers to their home
·
Reverse
"unilateral" policy decisions like labour law changes
·
Restore Parliamentary
functioning and oversight with immediate effect
·
Consult State governments
while allowing flights
Opening the meeting, Sonia
Gandhi said the central government had abandoned any pretence of being
democratic. "All power is now concentrated in one office, the PMO,"
the Congress president said.
Stating that the economy
was "gravely crippled", the Congress chief said every economist of
repute had advised an immediate need for a massive fiscal stimulus but
"the Prime Minister's announcement of a grand Rs 20 lakh crore package -
and the Finance Minister spelling out its details over the next five days --
has turned out to be a cruel joke on the country."
For Uddhav Thackeray, whose
Shiv Sena was a BJP ally for 35 years but has now teamed up with the NCP and
Congress to rule Maharashtra, this was the first such opposition meeting.
"We asked for the
migrants to be sent in the first four days , but they refused. But now there is
a fear of the virus spreading," Mr Thackeray said, accusing the BJP of
playing politics in the virus crisis.
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi
remarked: "We are the only country in the world which has increased in
cases after the lockdown and there is a fear it will increase after the
lockdown." He has repeatedly called the lockdown a "pause
button" and accused the government of fumbling over its exit strategy.
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