Evolve political consensus on national policy to tackle Covid-19 surge: Sonia Gandhi to Centre

She said it is time for the central and state governments to wake up and fulfil their duties

Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Saturday sought political consensus on a national strategy to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic, saying it was time the central and state governments woke up to fulfil their responsibilities.

In a video message, Gandhi also renewed her demand for free Covid-19 vaccines for all and asked the central government to put Rs 6,000 in the bank accounts of the poor families to prevent their migration to villages.

“Earlier too, our country has faced bigger problems successfully through unity. Congress will support every step taken by the Centre to save the country from the problem of Covid-19,” the Congress President said.

Gandhi’s message came at a time when the Supreme Court too has questioned the Centre over the differential pricing of Covid-19 vaccines and suggested invocation of the compulsory licensing provisions of the Patents Act to regulate the prices of vaccines.

“Testing should be increased across the country and medical oxygen and other resources should be arranged on a war footing. Free vaccination should be arranged for all citizens so that people can be saved. A compulsory vaccine license should be invoked to increase vaccine coverage. Black-marketing of life-saving medicines should be stopped,” she said.

She said lakhs of people are getting affected amid the pandemic every day and lakhs have died so far.

“These are testing times and we have to support each other. Most states continue to grapple with shortage of medical oxygen, hospital beds and medicines,” she said.

“I bow down to all the doctors and health workers who are serving Covid patients while putting themselves at risk. We have to go beyond the differences. Our country has overcome many huge struggles in the past. Congress will support the centre in this battle,” Gandhi said.