System hasn't failed but Modi govt failed in handling Covid-19 crisis: Sonia Gandhi

India is crippled by a political leadership today that has no empathy for the people, she alleged

Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Friday accused the Modi government of having failed the people of the country in its handling of the Covid-19 pandemic and demanded convening of an all-party meeting.

“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,” Gandhi said addressing a virtual meeting of the Congress Party in Parliament.

“Let us be absolutely clear – the system hasn’t failed. The Modi government has been unable to constructively channelize India’s many strengths and resources,” she said.

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Gandhi also praised Youth Congress President Srinivas B V and his team for the noteworthy efforts in helping the needy with oxygen, medicines and getting access to hospital beds.

Gandhi said Opposition leaders and chief ministers had made practical suggestions for action and raised legitimate concerns with the Prime Minister and union ministers, but received no meaningful response.

“The situation brooks no delay. Tackling this crisis requires able, calm and visionary leadership. The nation is sinking under the weight of the Modi government’s indifference and incompetence,” she said.

Gandhi said the Congress firmly believed that fighting the pandemic was not a 'Government versus Us' battle but an 'Us versus Corona' battle.

Also read: Global Covid-19 death toll more than double official estimates - IHME

“This battle transcends political differences. We have to fight this battle together as a nation,” she said and urged Modi to convene an all party meeting.

Gandhi asked the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge to bring to the notice of the Presiding Officer the Report of Standing Committee on Health presented in October 2020 and demand that he take action on the recommendations of the report.

Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asking the government to scientifically track Covid-19 and its variants and be transparent in sharing the findings in an effort to curb a deadly second wave.

He also said that a nationwide lockdown appeared inevitable and asked the government to act with compassion and provide critical financial and food support to the most vulnerable people.

"The situation brooks no delay. Tackling this crisis requires able, calm and visionary leadership," she said.

The nation, she charged, is sinking under the weight of the Modi government's indifference and incompetence and told party MPs that this is the time to rededicate themselves in the service of our people.

India saw a record number of 4.14 lakh fresh cases and around 4000 deaths in the last 24 hours.

Dwelling on the Congress' poor performance in the assembly polls, she said, "Most unfortunately, our own performance in all the states was very disappointing and if I may say, unexpectedly so."

"The CWC is meeting shortly to review the results but it goes without saying that we as a party collective must draw appropriate lessons from this setback in a spirit of humility and honesty," she also said.

Also read: Very disappointed with Congress performance in state polls: Sonia Gandhi

The Congress chief said the meeting of the Congress Parliamentary Committee was being held in extraordinary circumstances, with India being in the grip of a deadly health disaster.

She said thousands have died and millions are scrambling to access basic healthcare, life-saving medicines, oxygen, and vaccines.

It is heartbreaking to see people battling for their lives in hospitals, on roads, waiting in vehicles, far too many for want of any medical help at all, she said.

"And what is the Modi government doing? Instead of alleviating their suffering and pain, it has abdicated its fundamental responsibilities and duties towards the people," she charged.

She also alleged that the government's vaccination policy is inequitable and will exclude millions of Dalits, Adivasis, Other Backwards Classes, as well as the poor and the marginalised.

"It is utterly shocking to see the Modi government abdicate its moral obligation and its sworn duty towards the people," she said.

She also accused the Modi government of ignoring expert advice in not strengthening the supply chains for oxygen, medicine, and ventilators.

The government failed to place sufficient orders for vaccines in time to meet the needs of our people, she alleged, adding that instead, it consciously chose to allocate thousands of crores for non-essential projects that have nothing to do with the peoples' well-being.

"Instead of helping desperate patients, some BJP governments have been using the state's repressive power to arrest people merely for crying out for help," she said, alleging that they are cracking down on citizen groups who are trying their best to help.

They are also compelling social media platforms and the media to obfuscate the truth and ignore the pleas of desperate citizens, she said.