Lighting lamps alone won’t help: Congress

New Delhi: The Congress on Sunday said lighting lamps alone will not help win the war against coronavirus and demanded answers from the government on the safety of health workers in the “absence” of adequate protective gear. The party also said lifting of lockdown should not be done in an unplanned manner as its implementation.
“The prime minister made a request to people of the country to light a lamp or a torch at 9 pm for 9 minutes. Just like the lockdown alone cannot succeed in containing coronavirus, it should be backed by massive testing and economic package,” Congress spokesperson Sushmita Dev said at a press conference through video conferencing.
Dev cited examples of the US which has given 10 per cent of its GDP as economic package and the UK gave 15 per cent. Highlighting the absence of enough protective gear for the medical workers dealing with COVID-19 cases, Dev said at least 50 doctors have been infected.
She also sought to know when would the Centre provide compensation to those who have died due to coronavirus, as she said state governments were not financially equipped to provide the same.
“Around 100 people have died so far, will the central government give compensation to their families? These are some questions which we ask in national interest and not in criticism of the government,” she said.
Asked if the Congress supported lifting the lockdown, Dev said it is for the government to decide. “We only hope it is not done in an unplanned manner as the lockdown was impose, the sacrifice of people for the last 21 days should not go waste,” she noted. (PTI)