The Covid-19 pandemic rages on in India despite the nearly three month national lockdown that has been called the biggest and perhaps the most stringent in the world. In India, besides being an unprecedented and unpredictable health crisis, the Covid-19 pandemic has hurt the poor and the marginalised disproportionately more, and slowed the economy down to alarming levels. The Union government has been announcing various financial stimuli from time to time too, however, the results of most are yet to show on the ground. More people are now facing unemployment, hunger and ill health across the country. Then there are price rises which add to the misery. The latest is a hike in fuel prices, announced by the Union Government.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has often said the national leadership must work together across party lines in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic. He has even held meetings with chief ministers of states to draw up joint strategies. However, he is yet to directly respond to a steady stream of letters written by senior Opposition leader, Congress president Sonia Gandhi. She has written many letters to the PM raising crucial issues such as price rise, the misery of migrant workers, wages for labourers. The PM is yet to hit ‘reply’. Here are some of the letters from Congress President Sonia Gandhi to PM Modi that await a response on crucial issues:
June 16: Fuel price hike during Covid-19 pandemic
As petrol and disease prices were raised for the tenth day in a row, Sonia Gandhi wrote, “India has faced unprecedented public health, economic and social challenges during the ongoing battle against Covid-19. I am deeply distressed that in these exceedingly difficult times since the beginning of March, the government has taken the wholly insensitive decision to increase petrol and diesel prices on no less than ten separate occasions.”
She urged the Prime Minister to rollback the hike, and pass on the benefit of low oil prices directly to the citizens already suffering hardships, writing, “I see no logic in why the government would even consider such a price increase at a time when the economic impact of Covid-19 is depriving millions of jobs and livelihood, devastating business big and small, rapidly eroding the income of the middle class, even as farmers are struggling to sow the crop for the Kharif season.”
Mentioning that the international price of crude oil has fallen, Gandhi said the government is profiteering off the people, “Given that the international price of crude oil has fallen by approximate 9 per cent over the last week (coming after a collapse of crude oil prices over the last few months), the Government is doing nothing short of profiteering off its people – when they are down and out.” She added, “It is a matter of record that despite historically low oil prices over the last six years your government’s revenues have been massively enriched by the cumulative increase in excise duty on petrol and diesel on twelve different occasions (by an additional Rs 23.78 per litre on petrol and Rs 28.37 on diesel). This translates into a 258 per cent increase in excise on petrol and 820 per cent hike in excise duty on diesel yielding in these six years a staggering Rs 18,00,000 crores from excise collection on petrol and diesel alone. If ever there was ever a time to deploy these resources in the service of the people, it is now.”
April 25: Asks for a special package for MSMEs
Sonia Gandhi wrote, “Every single day of the lockdown comes at a cost of Rs 30,000 crore to the sector. Nearly all MSMEs have lost sales orders, seen a complete cessation of their work, and have had their revenue negatively impacted by the lockdown. Most worrying, the 11 crore employees are at risk of losing jobs…”
April 13: Suggestions to combat chronic food insecurity
Sonia Gandhi, once again wrote to the PM urging him to increase free grain supply to 10 kg per person for a longer period, till September 2020 under the National Food Security Act. She also suggested that this also include those who do not hold ration cards, but also face massive food shortage including migrant workers. The letter can be read here:
April 7: Five Points of austerity measures for the PM to consider
Suspending the Rs 20,000 crore “Central Vista” project.
Putting “all foreign visits” on hold. The amount (which is around Rs 393 crores for just the Prime Minister and Union Cabinet’s trips in the last five years) can be utilised extensively in measures to combat Covid-19,” she had written.
Two-year ban on TV, print and online media ads by the government, except coronavirus-related information.
Transfer money collected under the “PM Cares” to the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund to “ensure efficiency, transparency, accountability and audit.”
Government can make a “proportionate reduction of 30 per cent” in its expenditure. The funds saved can be used to help migrant workers, and those who work in unorganised sectors.
Congress President and CPP Chairperson Smt. Sonia Gandhi writes to PM Modi suggesting various measures to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. pic.twitter.com/77MzCYiokl
— Congress (@INCIndia) April 7, 2020
April 1: Sought advance wages to labourers registered under MGNREGA
Sonia Gandhi wrote to the PM, that lakhs of agricultural workers were not able to earn during the harvest season once the lockdown was announced and social distancing was essential. She had suggested they be paid 21 days wages in advance, so they could survive in the interim, and that it could be adjusted once work resumed. Here is the letter:
March 27: Drew attention to the plight of migrant workers
In this letter Gandhi highlights the impact on the already marginalised migrant workers, who were forced to walk hundreds of miles to their hometowns. She had sought special transport for them.
March 26: Sought more PPEs, and a ‘risk allowance’ for healthcare workers
While assuring her party’s support to steps taken by the Union Government to help contain the Covis-19 pandemic, Sonia Gandhi had asked that health workers be equipped better. She said it was urgent to give doctors, nurses and health workers ‘Personal Protection Equipment’ including N-95 masks and hazmat suits. She said the government must scale up “manufacture and supply of these items so that not a single health professional faces the predicament of contracting or passing on COVID-19 owing to unavailability of ‘Personal Protection Equipment’.” She also sought a “Risk Allowance” for doctors, nurses and health workers for a period of six months retrospectively from the 1st of March 2020.
March 23: Asked for financial aid to construction workers and labourers hit by the lockdown
Gandhi wrote, “… lakhs of migrant workers in major cities across India have left for their hometown and villages fearing a prolonged economic downturn.” She also wrote about migrant workers who were “deprived of their livelihoods” and were “stranded in the cities.”
The Union Government has addressed some of the points raised by Sonia Gandhi, but many still remain to be considered, even as the Covid-19 curve continues to rise in many states. The letters have also acted as a booster shot of energy in the Congress rank and file, which is now seen to be working with a new plan of action in place. The crucial, Bihar Assembly election is due this year.