Lambasting Central Government for playing with lives of poorest of poor, daily wagers and most vulnerable in the society, Awami Itehad Party (AIP) called out BJP Government for its shoddy response in resolving people’s problems while dealing with Covid-19.
“Two-thirds of India’s 1.34 billion population lives hands to mouth, Covid-19 health crisis can transform into a hunger crisis for the most vulnerable. With 90 percent workforce in India without employment and lacking social security, lockdown in other words means no wages and hence no means to support their families. In absence of an extensive financial assistance package, asking people at large to assist poorest of poor is nothing but food hardy,” reads a statement issued to PTK.
“Modi has left all daily wagers, low income families and poorest of poor to fend for themselves, speeches don’t fill empty stomachs,” said party spokesperson Sheeban Ashai.
Expressing disgust at the level of criminal insensitivity and lack of empathy for weaker sections, he explained how there is gross inequality and economic disparity across India. “As per rights group Oxfam, India’s richest one percent holds more than four-times the wealth held by 70 percent of the country’s population,” he said.
“The harrowing gap between rich and poor in India is a result of decades of deliberate inequality-busting policies. Party termed the earlier announced economic relief as a ship-shod exercise by Modi government. Package of ₹ 1.7 lakh crore which does not even amount to 0.5 percent of the total budgetary allocations is akin to throwing crumbs at poor and hapless,” spokesman said.
He said, “We have seen countries across the globe adopting a generous and inclusively holistic approach towards their citizens. US has announced an economic relief package close to 10 per cent of its national income, Similarly UK and Malaysian Governments have allocated a relief package amounting nearly 17 per cent of their national income. But it seems Tali, Thalli brigade don’t give two hoots about economically weaker sections of the society.”
“Thanks to the Government’s ill planned response we saw how lakhs of migrants workers were in literal terms, left at the mercy of God. Some had to walk hundreds of kilometers altogether, the spokesman said.
“Government’s lack of understanding of ground realities is hitting worst those, who need assistance the most. Party accused the BJP Government for timidly responding to the issue at hand, lack of compassion for the needy in hour of crisis has totally exposed Modi’s tall claims of inclusive governance,” he added.
AIP demanded announcement of a comprehensive economic package, amounting to at least 10 per cent of India’s national income for fighting the twin crises of Covid-19 and loss of livelihood.
