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Katakana polls: BJP, Cong, other parties high voltage campaign to end today

Katakana polls

The high voltage campaign for the May 10 Assembly elections in Karnataka will come to an end today (Monday) as all three major political parties in the state — BJP, Congress and JD(S) — are all out to woo voters by making their last pitch.

As part of the campaign  for the elections to the 224-member Assembly, “Government with full majority” seemed to be the favourite slogan of the leaders of all the political parties, as they stressed on getting a clear mandate to form a strong and stable government in the state.

While BJP’s campaign largely centralised with the focus being on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, national issues and programmes or achievements of the union government coupled with a few from the state, the Congress’s by and large focused on local issues and was also run by its local leaders initially.

PM Modi participated in 18 mega public meetings and six roadshows so far, as part of the campaigns and visited the state seven times since January, to unveil several government schemes and projects, and addressed numerous meetings of beneficiaries of the government’s various schemes.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah too has extensively travelled the state, campaigning and strategising for the polls.

The JD(S) led by former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda was seen putting all its strength into campaigning, wanting to emerge as “king” and not “kingmaker”, hoping to get the required numbers to form a government on its own.

Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday urged “nationalistic people” to unite and make the supporters of the banned outfit Popular Front of India (PFI) bite the dust in the forthcoming elections in Karnataka.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will also be campaigning in Karnataka with Rahul Gandhi joining her for a joint public meeting in Shivaji Nagar, today on the last day of campaign.

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Congress state president raised questions about recruitment scams and demanded a CBI inquiry!

Mahara has said that huge corruption and nepotism were seen in the recruitments of all departments including Uttarakhand Subordinate Service Selection Commission, Cooperation Department, and Education Department. Due to this, the Congress State President has applied for a CBI inquiry. Stay tuned on this page and make eyeball attention to this entire content.

According to reports, it is being told that Congress workers, alleging rigging in recruitment in various institutions, asked the Governor to complete all the work under the supervision of the CBI. Moreover, it has also been said that demand will also be made to conduct an inquiry under the supervision of the Judge of the High Court.

As you all know, the workers who met the Governor under the leadership of Congress State President Karan Mehra have told that there has been a lot of corruption in the jobs of government departments. It was also told that it was clarified by the order of inquiry into the recruitment examination in the Subordinate Services Selection Commission, in the recruitment of the cooperative department, 33 posts of Secretariat Guard and 288 posts of Judicial Junior Assistant.

There has been a huge amount of fraud in the recruitment of guards, Gram Panchayat secretary, and village development officer. Among those who met the Governor are former State President Ganesh Godiyal, MLA Furkan Ahmed, State Vice President Suryakant Dhasmana, State General Secretary Organization Vijay Saraswat, Chief Spokesperson Garima Dasani and former MLA Rajkumar etc.

It has also been alleged that in the recruitment of 61 posts in cooperative banks, the bank president, secretary and officers in connivance have provided jobs to their relatives, due to which the hard-working candidates are not getting the benefits of government services. . To stop this corruption, the state president has asked for a CBI inquiry. Through CBI investigation it can be proved what percentage of seats these people have snatched from hardworking candidates.

To get the latest and best news, stay connected with this channel like this, tomorrow once again we will meet you with the new and latest news.

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Tharoor cleared in Sunanda Pushkar’s death case; says ‘nightmare over’

Shashi Tharoor

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Wednesday thanked a Delhi court for discharging him in connection with the Sunanda Pushkar death case and said that the allegations meant “seven and a half years of absolute torture” for him. Tharoor had a case of abetment to suicide and cruelty, against him.

Special Judge Geetanjali Goel pronounced the order at a virtual hearing in which Tharoor was present.

Tharoor later released a statement saying that his faith in the judiciary had been “vindicated” and his “long nightmare” was over.

““This brings a significant conclusion to the long nightmare which had enveloped me after the tragic passing of my late wife Sunanda. I have weathered dozens of unfounded acquisitions and media vilification patiently, sustained by my faith in the Indian judiciary, which today stands vindicated,” he said.

Tharoor further said, “In our justice system, the process is all too often the punishment. Nonetheless, the fact that justice has been done, at last, will allow all of us in the family to mourn Sunanda in peace”. He also thanked his lawyers, particularly Vikas Pahwa and Gaurav Gupta.

Pushkar was found dead in a suite of a luxury hotel in Delhi on January 17, 2014. The Delhi Police initially registered an FIR against unknown persons on charges of murder, on January 1, 2015. Tharoor was later booked under IPC Sections 498A (husband or his relative subjecting a woman to cruelty) and 306 (abetment to suicide).

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Rahul Gandhi castigated centre over Indo-China LAC issue-speculations on PK joining Congress

Rahul Gandhi

On Wednesday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused the central government of weakening the country and said that India has never been so vulnerable.

Mr. Gandhi cited a media report that claimed that the Chinese military has again crossed the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh at several places. Based on these reports, he tweeted, “Government of India’s use of foreign and defence policy as a domestic political tool has weakened our country. India has never been this vulnerable.” He quipped at the centre’s mishandling of the Chinese intrusion at Ladakh.

Also Read: Galwan valley conflict issue- a skirmish, an incursion or something more

 

Later in the day, in parliament, Mr. Gandhi’s demand to hold a discussion on the security situation on LAC was turned down by the chair. Subsequently, Rahul Gandhi and other Congress MPs walked out of the meeting of the Parliamentary Panel on Defence.

In a parallel development, Archana Dalmia, a close aide of Rahul Gandhi posted a tweet on Wednesday welcoming poll strategist Prashant Kishor into the Congress party. On Tuesday, Kishor had held discussions with Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. This had sparked speculations of a united front against BJP in the upcoming general elections. Reports indicated that during their talks, the strategist may have been offered a formal role in the party by the Gandhis, as the party prepares for big elections ahead, at state and national levels.

Also Read: When an ally becomes an adversary- Prashant Kishor and BJP from national election to state elections

Speculations are rife in political corridors that the meeting between Gandhis and Kishor had a larger agenda revolving around the 2024 polls. The talks probably centred on how Congress can be relevant in attempts to form a front against the BJP. During the meeting of Prashant Kishor, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka, and KC Venugopal, Congress interim chief Sonia Gandhi was also present via video conferencing. The meeting lasted about 1 hour, as per sources. The presence of the party president at the meeting was significant. Mrs Gandhi sought to know how Congress can be strengthened ahead of the elections.

Last month, Kishor, met Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo Sharad Pawar thrice. Prashant Kishor’s latest success has been the victory of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in the 2021 West Bengal assembly polls

His meeting with Rahul Gandhi also comes amid the infighting in Punjab Congress. With assembly elections in Punjab scheduled to be held next year, Congress MLA in the state Navjot Sidhu has been making the political situation difficult for CM Captain Amarinder Singh.

Also Read: Can Indian National Congress afford to have twin centres of power in Punjab?

Congress High Command has maintained that Captain Amarinder Singh will remain the party’s CM face in the elections. Despite this, Navjot Singh Sidhu is reportedly vying for the top post after having been at loggerheads with the Punjab CM’s administration over several issues. Meanwhile recently, Sidhu was also found to be praising AAP for understanding his vision which raised speculations of his cosying up with the party of Arvind Kejriwal. It will be a challenging task for Kishor to shape up the game of Congress in Punjab, given all the hue and cries raised by Sidhu.

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Congress general secretary hints at rejig in Punjab Congress and the state cabinet

Amarinder Singh

On Monday, Congress general secretary and Punjab affairs in-charge Harish Rawat said that the party would soon replace Pradesh Congress chief Sunil Jakhar. Rawat also added that the party will also subsequently rejig the Cabinet.

Rawat further said that the changes would be carried out “within 2-3 days”. It was stressed that Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh will remain in the post.

Immediately after being discharged from hospital, where he was admitted, Rawat stated, “Punjab will get a new PCC chief and a few new faces in the Cabinet of Chief Minister Amarinder Singh.”

He further said, “There will be no change in the CM. Nobody demanded any change at that level. People had a few issues. Those will be sorted out. Also, the party has to take many factors into consideration. It has to work out the right role for the right person.”

Also Read: Can Indian National Congress afford to have twin centres of power in Punjab?

Over the past few weeks, Punjab Congress has been troubled and wracked by voices of dissent against Capt Amarinder. This intra-party crisis has intensified in recent months. With Assembly elections scheduled for early next year, leaders in Congress have been getting restless over the delay in its resolution. Amid the chaos, there were unconfirmed reports that Navjot Singh Sidhu could be named the new chief of the party in the state.

Rawat further said, “The changes are on the cards within 2-3 days. I was confident that everything will be resolved before July 8. That is why I had announced that everything would be sorted out by the end of the first week of July.”

Also Read: Only an increase in number of Cabinet ministers not vaccines; Rahul Gandhi’s jibe at centre

Reflecting on the problems in other states, Rawat also said, “Things were, however, delayed because other states were also demanding attention of the high command. But as the general secretary in-charge, I was getting worried that it was getting delayed. The issues should get resolved soon. Otherwise, what is the general secretary in-charge for?”

Congress general secretary Rawat also expressed confidence that after the announcements, “everybody” in the Punjab Congress would be happy.

The Punjab affairs in-charge of Congress also added, “Do not you see how Navjot Singh Sidhu has trained his guns in the right direction? The guns are trained at the right persons.” In this statement, he was referring to Sidhu’s tweets over the last two days targeting the Badals instead of the Chief Minister.

The INC general secretary further said that Amarinder’s statement after his meeting with Sonia Gandhi that he would abide by what the Congress president decides, was “a big deal”.

On Capt Amarinder Singh’s reaction after his meeting with Sonia Gandhi, Rawat praised the CM and stated, “It was so magnanimous of Captain Sahib that he did not say anything about Sidhu, and said that he had left everything to the Congress president. It is a huge thing if someone of the stature of Captain Sahib says such words. I was hoping it would have a sobering effect on the Punjab Congress as well.”

Also Read: Congress leaders call the centre’s stimulus measures sham

Cabinet rejig- marginalised groups to be represented

There will be a Valmiki leader, among the new faces in the state Cabinet. On this reshuffle Rawat said, “There will be a reshuffle. A Valmiki will be inducted. There will be no heartburn as everybody wanted Valmikis to get representation in the government.”

CM Capt. Amarinder Singh is learnt to have drawn up a list of new Ministers. On the new list, there are reports that a few ministers from Majha and Malwa could be dropped. Reports also point out that a first-time MLA, the Vidhan Sabha Speaker, and an MLA belonging to the Backward Classes could be inducted. In another development, a group of Ministers is reported to have decided that if anyone among them was dropped, all of them would resign en masse.

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Only an increase in number of Cabinet ministers not vaccines; Rahul Gandhi’s jibe at centre

Congress, Rahul gandhi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi took a dig at the recent expansion of the Union Council of Ministers under the Narendra Modi-led government. On Sunday, he tweeted, “The number of ministers have increased, not vaccines.” Rahul Gandhi castigated the cabinet-expansion at the centre when the country is dealing with a shortage of vaccines

While taking jibes at the centre, Rahul Gandhi shared a chart illustrating the current status of vaccination in the country. As per the chart, 60 percent of the population must be fully vaccinated by December in order to stop the third wave of infections in India. The chart states that for this purpose, nearly 8.8 million doses must be administered daily.

Also Read: Congress can possibly get a new leader in parliament- probable place card for Rahul Gandhi

The chart shared by Rahul Gandhi further notes that a shortfall in the number of doses given each day would mean a rise in the required rate of vaccination. In India, on Saturday, July 10, 3.7 million doses were administered. This means that there was a shortfall of 5.1 million jabs. According to the chart, a similar pattern has been observed in the last seven days.

Rahul Gandhi’s dig comes after PM Modi introduced 36 new faces in the Union Cabinet, taking the tally to 78. The number is just a notch short of the statutory limit of 81.

The newly-appointed Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya essentially replaced Dr Harsh Vardhan at the helm of the coronavirus crisis. Mandaviya had on Thursday announced a Covid-19 Emergency Response and Health Preparedness package of Rs 23,123 crore. The CERHP package would include creation of paediatric units in all 736 districts, installation of 1,050 liquid medical oxygen storage tanks. It would also include expansion of the tele-consultation platform that will offer 5 lakh consultations per day.

Also Read: Congress leaders call the centre’s stimulus measures sham

A total of 41,506 new coronavirus cases were reported on July 11 in India in the last 24 hours. Additionally, 895 Covid-related deaths were also recorded. As of Sunday morning, as many as 37,60,32,586 doses had been administered in the country. Out of them, 37,23,367 were given in the last 24 hours.

Latest research shows that the basic reproductive number denoted as R0 moved up significantly between June 20 and July 7. The BRN is an indicator of how fast the pathogen causing the Covid-19 pandemic is spreading. The findings on R0 could be an early signal of an impending potential surge in the number of cases.

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Congress takes jibe at Jyotiraditya Scindia on being appointed as the civil aviation minister

Jyotiraditya Scindia

On Friday, Congress’ youth wing chief Srinivas B V took a jibe at BJP leader Jyotiraditya Scindia on being appointed as the civil aviation minister. Srinivas took a potshot at Scindia with a meme showing Air India mascot telling Scindia “we are both for sale.” It drew a sharp reaction from BJP which said that it reflected the opposition party’s frustration. The meme was first shared from the social media account of the Congress’ Madhya Pradesh unit. Gradually, the meme gained a lot of traction after it was shared by the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) chief.

Scindia’s appointment as aviation minister has brought hopes to MP of better connectivity. His aunt and MP cabinet minister Yashodhara Raje tweeted, “Jyotiraditya seated on the post where Dada (Madhavrao) ‘took flight! Warm greetings…”

Also Read: UP and Punjab can pose a challenge for election commission in 2022

Srinivas BV shared the meme which showed Air India Mascot ‘Maharaja’ telling Scindia, “Aiyye Maharaj, hum dono bikau hain (Come Maharaja, we are both for sale).” A caption was added to the meme stating, “Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi.”

Madhya Pradesh Congress shared the meme last night and wrote, “Bikau ko bechne ka kaam mila, Gaddari ka use kuch yu inaam mila (One who is up for sale has been given the job of selling, got a reward for being a traitor).”

Also Read: Congress can possibly get a new leader in parliament- probable place card for Rahul Gandhi

BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia hit out at Srinivas’ post. Bhatia said that the Congress stooping to such levels to target a “young and enterprising” leader like Scindia shows its frustration. He slammed the Congress for using the term ‘Bikau.’ Bhatia said that this comes from people who are out on bail on corruption charges. There were also numerous other social media posts taking a dig at Scindia. There were also many others in which the Congress was slammed for targeting him.

In March last year, Scindia (50) resigned from the Congress and joined the BJP. This move triggered a chain of events which finally culminated in the collapse of the KamalNath government just 15 months after its formation. That paved the way for the saffron party to assume power which it lost towards the end of 2018. On joining BJP, Scindia was made a Rajya Sabha member, while Shivraj Singh Chouhan came back as the chief minister.

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Congress can possibly get a new leader in parliament- probable place card for Rahul Gandhi

Rahul Gandhi

Congress is abuzz with talk of its own organizational-reshuffle. This development comes parallel to talks of a reshuffle of the cabinet and organization of BJP.

Congress Party is expected to have a new leader in the Lok Sabha, among the larger changes in the organisation. At least two senior party-leaders have confirmed that Rahul Gandhi is a top contender for the job. They added that nothing is official about it because Gandhi is yet to agree to this.

The INC party is currently dealing with power rivalry between Amarinder Singh and Navjot Singh Sidhu in Punjab.

The speculation about new leader is high especially after it has been observed that the centre has been following exactly what Rahul Gandhi has been suggesting through his speeches, tweets, & white papers, albeit at a gap of 10-15 days. Mr. Gandhi’s suggestions have been a type of guidelines for the centre through crises like Covid19, second wave, Oxygen-deficit, economy, vaccine-shortage. But, BJP vehemently refuses to accept this pattern.

It has been reported that Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra are both keen that Gandhi accept this role and are trying to all they can to ensure he does.

Over the new leader of Congress, the grand old party’s chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala has refused to comment.

Also See: Arguments over Central Vista project

The post of Congress President could go to someone outside the family, if Gandhi accepts to be the leader in parliament. The two leaders added that this is something that would also address the demands of the Group of 23 Congress leaders who have been asking for internal elections.  Since the tenure of the current All India Congress Committee is till 2022, the decision on the Congress President may be taken at a later stage.

But, not everyone in the Gandhi camp is convinced that he should take the job, which is currently carried out by Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury.

Also Read: Congress plans for early July-“Nationwide protest and Covid care programme”

On the condition of anonymity, one Member of Parliament said, “This would tie him down to Parliament, and in some ways it is a much tougher job than being Congress President.” The MP is concerned that Rahul Gandhi may be limited to parliamentary affairs when the party needs him more on the ground among the people. BJP has often attacked Rahul Gandhi for his patchy parliament attendance. He has also been criticized for not being regular even in the parliamentary committee hearings.

Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury was blamed for the Congress’ abysmal performance in the West Bengal elections. In the assembly election in the eastern state, where it ruled in 50s, 60s and 70s, Congress failed to get a single seat in the assembly. Additionally, Chowdhury’s colleagues also gave him poor reviews in managing the party’s affairs in Lok Sabha. Some of them even felt that he was not antagonistic enough to the ruling party.

Also Read: “Who took money in Rafale scam, who deleted anti-corruption clauses & who gave middlemen access to the defence documents”, asked Rahul Gandhi

It is worthwhile to note that Chowdhury has told a senior Congress leader that if the party decides to give him some other role, he will gladly accept it. Chowdhury might have to leave the West Bengal state Congress president’s post after the debacle of the party in the recent assembly polls, said one of the two congress leaders.

Rahul Gandhi has indicated that he may agree to taking up an official post.

On the condition of anonymity, a senior leader said, “Rahul Gandhi as leader in Lok Sabha was something that has always been an idea and even Pranab Mukherjee suggested it once.” The leader further added, “whether he will accept it at this stage is a big if.”

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Ostracize & pelt stones at the leaders who defected to TRS, said TPCC president Revanth Reddy

Revanth Reddy-TPCC

Recently, twelve MLAs defected from Congress to Telangana Rashtra Samithi. Anumula Revanth Reddy, the newly appointed president of Telangana Pradesh Congress committee has called out Congress party-men to ostracize the leaders who defected. TPCC president Revanth Reddy is also an MP. He called upon Congress activists to stone to death 12 Congress MLAs, who had defected to TRS. He said that he will personally lead the charge in pelting stones on them.

Reddy said that people voted against Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao and elected 12 Congress MLAs in the last Assembly elections but the ruling party purchased them and showed disrespect to people’s mandate.

Also Read: IAS officer touched the feet of CM KC Rao on the occasion of Father’s day

Revanth Reddy visited the residence of AICC secretary Sampath Kumar, as a courtesy call. Sampath Kumar is also the Maharashtra state party affairs in-charge. Anumula Revanth Reddy and Sampath Kumar are former MLAs from the undivided Mahbubnagar district.

The TPCC chief said that defection cases against Congress MLAs have been in the High Court for the last two years. He stated that delayed judgment would become judgment denied and the High Court should pronounce its verdict early.

Reddy further said that Assembly Speaker P. Srinivas Reddy should also take a decision at the earliest. He also warned that if the Speaker failed to do so, the Congress will go to court against him.

The Malkajgiri MP came down heavily on Telangana State Legislative Assembly Speaker Pocharam Srinivas Reddy, while speaking to the media. Reddy said that the Speaker was using his “discretionary power without discretion”.

He stated that once he assumes charge as the TPCC chief, he would formulate an action plan for the disqualification of the 12 MLAs who defected from Congress. Revanth further said that he was even ready to move the Supreme Court.

Revanth Reddy said, “We will explore legal options to initiate criminal charges against the Speaker for encouraging defections.” Reddy further said that the people were ready to vote for the Congress, as they had confidence in Sonia Gandhi’s leadership.

Revanth Reddy also said that voters gave a fitting lesson to former Assembly Speaker S. Madhusudana Chary. He said that the former speaker of assembly had vehemently misused his discriminatory powers on issues concerning defections. Regarding the defections, Reddy dared the 12 MLAs to resign from their posts and face a fresh mandate.

Anumula Revanth Reddy met former union minister Renuka Chowdary at her residence. TPCC working president Anjan Kumar Yadav, senior vice-president Ramreddy Damodar Reddy, former minister Sambhani Chandrasekhar and Mahila Congress state president Sunita Rao accompanied Revanth Reddy on the visit.

Speaking on the occasion, Renuka Chowdary said that an anti-Chandrashekar Rao tirade would start from Khammam. The former union minister said that the 12 defected MLAs would do a ghar wapsi soon.

Renuka criticised both TRS and BJP governments for inept handling of Covid-19, which has killed lakhs of people. She further criticized the steep hike in fuel and LPG prices which is adversely affecting the people.

Indian national congress hopes that the strong image of the new state party president Anumula Revanth Reddy as a staunch ‘anti TRS’ and ‘anti Chandrashekar Rao’ will help to polarise votes in favour of the party in Telangana.

Also Read: Multi-purpose Kaleshwaram lift irrigation project in Telangana put on hold until further notice by the NGT

Congress high command reportedly felt that only Revanth Reddy could match the popularity, aggressiveness, mass following, especially among youth. The party also believes that Revanth Reddy could also match the oratory skills of TRS president and Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao. These potential advantage factors could take on the ruling party effectively in the 2023 Assembly polls and bring Congress back to power in the state.

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Congress leaders call the centre’s stimulus measures sham

Rahul-chidambaram

On Tuesday, the Congress hit out at the government over the stimulus measures announced by it to support the pandemic-hit economy. Former party chief Rahul Gandhi stated that no family can spend the economic package on its daily needs and it was nothing “but another sham”. On Monday, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced Rs 1.5 lakh crore of additional credit for small and medium businesses, more funds for the healthcare sector, loans to tourism agencies and guides, and waiver of visa fee for foreign tourists as part of the package to support the economy. Rahul Gandhi reacted to the government’s stimulus package for the economy. He said, “No family can spend FM’s ‘economic package’ on their living-food-medicine-child’s school fees.” He said in a tweet in Hindi, “It is not a package, but another sham!”

FM के ‘आर्थिक पैकेज’ को कोई परिवार अपने रहने-खाने-दवा-बच्चे की स्कूल फ़ीस पर ख़र्च नहीं कर सकता।

पैकेज नहीं, एक और ढकोसला!

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) June 29, 2021

Also See: Arguments over Central Vista project

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram also criticised the government over the package. He said that the answer to this “crisis” is to spur demand by putting money in the hands of the people, especially the poor and the lower middle classes.

Chidambaram said, “Some elementary truths: Credit guarantee is not credit. Credit is more debt. No banker will lend to a debt-ridden business.”

In a series of tweets, the former finance minister said that debt-burdened or cash-starved businesses do not want more credit, they need non-credit capital. He said, “More supply does not mean more demand (consumption). On the contrary, more demand (consumption). On the contrary, more demand (consumption) will trigger more supply.”

Also Read: Congress plans for early July-“Nationwide protest and Covid care programme”

Castigating the centre, Chidambaram argued that demand will not grow in an economy where jobs have been lost and incomes or wages have been reduced. He said, “The answer to this crisis is to put money in the hands of the people, especially the poor and lower middle classes.”

“Demand (consumption) will not grow in an economy where jobs have been lost and incomes/wages have been reduced

The answer to this crisis is to put money in the hands of the people, especially the poor and lower middle classes”

— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) June 29, 2021

The comment of former Union Finance Minister has credible weight and precedence. In Brazil, where the pandemic dealt a historic blow, cash hand-outs indeed lowered the inequality. The South American country had given out so much cash directly to citizens that poverty and inequality approached national historic lows.

The grand old party of India had on Monday claimed that the measures announced by the current Finance Minister “delivered nothing but headlines”. The party further suggested that the government should take steps to spur demand to revive the economy “which continues to be in the doldrums”.

Also Read: “Who took money in Rafale scam, who deleted anti-corruption clauses & who gave middlemen access to the defence documents”, asked Rahul Gandhi

Points raised by the Congress have tremendous weights, as the lockdowns have literally smashed the informal economy and burnt it over cinders. Daily wage earners who live hand to mouth and compose the bulk of people suffering from chronic hunger along with the destitute have been left with no hopes. Numerous people who earn by selling petty daily use items and food materials on trains and buses were left without any backup. They have been left impoverished and their conditions are still no better. Around 23 crore Indians have been pushed into poverty when the centre was busy in election razzmatazz, ignoring Covid-appropriate behaviour and engaged in hubristic self-gloating. The second wave, the oxygen crisis, and the dead bodies floating in rivers have laid bare the failure of the BJP-led centre, which had battered the economy even before the arrival of the pandemic. The only thing which has changed after Covid19’s arrival is that the crawling economy has been left completely decimated. Therefore, the statements from the Congress leaders are reminder of the centre’s failure, which should be taken seriously.