No ration, only ‘bhashan’, say observers; Congress criticizes Modi’s speech as directionless

No ration, only bhashan…PM Modi’s third address to the nation amid lockdown lacked vision, compassion and forward planning, feel political observers.

People were expecting that the PM would announce a relief package or financial support package to the SMEs or he say some words of sympathy for the suffering poor and farmers but he disappointed on this count, said a Delhi watcher on condition on anonymity.

According to political observers and analysts, PM, in carefully crafted words, threw all the burden of the fight against the corona pandemic on states and recused himself from responsibilities.

“If states have to do everything, then what is the role of the Central government in a federal structure. What have you been then elected for?” said a senior journalist while commenting on PM’s address.

Echoing the journalist’s views, senior Congress leader Manish Tewari said the country has been following what the government has said in the past also, but we want to know what the government is going to do.

Addressing a presser through video-conferencing, he said, “The PM told us what country should do but he did not tell what the government is doing for us…Lockdown serves two purposes – 1. It prevents spread of transmission and 2. Gives time to front line workers such as doctors, policemen…PM’s address lost core-direction”.

Asking about the arrangements to transport the migrants, Tewari questioned, “What arrangements have you made to transport the people who have been stranded here and there?”

Many say, if monitored closely, the PM’s address exposes his shortcomings as the head of the government also.

His saying that “people should feed themselves” and leaving it on people to “feed as many poor as they can” shows lack of sensitivity towards poor, said an analyst.

“PM advised corporates, industrialists and company owners not to lay-off employees but he did not utter a single word what his government is going to do to protect jobs,” said the Delhi-based analysts.

PM’s address sounded like an election speech in the times of corona crisis, said Pratik Sinha, founder of the Alt News.

Activist Saket Gokhle said PM has extended the lockdown till May 3 because he wanted to sound “different”.  Taking a jibe at BJP supporters who justified extension of the lockdown Gokhle tweeted :