Lockdown is India's success, Rahul wrong: BJP

May 26, 2020 16:41

The BJP on Tuesday rejected Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi's statement that the lockdown had "failed" in its purpose, saying the doubling rate of coronavirus infection has fallen to 13 days from three before the lockdown, which, it asserted, is a "success" of India.

BJP leader and Union minister Prakash Javadekar said the Modi government's decision to impose the lockdown has ensured that India suffered much less than countries like the US, France and Spain.

He took a swipe at the Congress, saying it is doing politics at a time when the nation is fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. India's efforts to combat coronavirus have drawn praise from the world over but attracted opposition from the Congress, he said. He said the Congress earlier asked why the lockdown was imposed and is now raising questions again when it is being relaxed.

"This highlights double-speak and hypocrisy of the Congress," the senior BJP leader said. He said over 45 lakh migrant labourers have been ferried back home in over 3000 trains, and this is historic, he said.

On Gandhi's demand that the Centre give cash to the poor, he said BJP-ruled states like Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka have given cash to migrants and asked which Congress-run state has done so.

Citing various welfare provisions of the the Centre, including five month free ration for over 80 crore poor, transfer of Rs 2000 to nine crore farmers and Rs 500 to 20 crore women, and free gas cylinders to eight crore households, Javadekar said these measures in real term are more than Rs 7,500 demanded by Gandhi for the poor. -- PTI

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