New Delhi, May 7: Amid rising COVID-19 cases, Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Friday said it is not the system but the Modi government that has failed the people by not being able to channelise resources, and demanded an all-party meeting be convened immediately.
Addressing the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) meeting virtually, she also said the party’s performance in the just-concluded assembly elections was very disappointing and MPs must draw “appropriate lessons from this setback in the spirit of humility and honesty”.
The meeting was attended by the Congress’ members in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, including Rahul Gandhi.
Senior party leader and former prime minister Manmohan Singh could not attend the meet.
Noting that the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic transcends political differences and everyone has to fight it together, Sonia Gandhi launched a fierce attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi alleging that India is crippled by a political leadership that has no empathy for the people. She also demanded that a meeting of the parliamentary standing committees be convened to ensure collective action and accountability to combat the pandemic better.
“Let us be absolutely clear — the system hasn’t failed. The Modi government has been unable to constructively channelise India’s many strengths and resources. I say this categorically — India is crippled by a political leadership today that has no empathy for the people. The Modi government has failed the people of our country,” the Congress president told the MPs. She said the Congress firmly believes that fighting the pandemic is not a “Government versus Us” battle but a “Us versus Corona” battle.
“This battle transcends political differences. We have to fight this battle together as a nation. In that spirit, as a first step, I believe that the Modi government must urgently call an all-party meeting on the COVID-19 situation,” Sonia Gandhi said.
In the meet, she told Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge to bring to the notice of the presiding officers of the both House of Parliament the report of the Standing Committee on Health presented in October 2020 and demand that they take action on its recommendations.
“The situation brooks no delay. Tackling this crisis requires able, calm and visionary leadership,” Sonia Gandhi said and alleged that the nation is sinking under the weight of the Modi government’s indifference and incompetence. She told Congress MPs that this is the time to rededicate themselves in the service of the people. India has seen a record 4.14 lakh fresh cases and around 4,000 deaths in the last 24 hours, according to health ministry data updated on Tuesday. (PTI)
