Congress leader Rahul Gandhi slammed the Narendra Modi-led government yet again on Tuesday, 4 May, amid the devastating second surge of the COVID-19 pandemic in India, saying "the only way to stop the spread of corona now is a full lockdown – with the protection of NYAY for the vulnerable sections."
In another tweet later, the Congress leader clarified that “a lockdown is now the only option because of a complete lack of strategy by GoI (Government of India).”
"They allowed, rather, they actively helped the virus reach this stage where there’s no other way to stop it. A crime has been committed against India," he said.
"GoI doesn’t get it. The only way to stop the spread of corona now is a full lockdown- with the protection of NYAY for the vulnerable sections. GoI’s inaction is killing many innocent people," Gandhi had earlier posted.
By NYAY, Gandhi was referring to the Nyuntam Aay Yojana that he had put forward ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Under the minimum income guarantee scheme, his party had promised to give an annual income support of Rs 72,000 to poor families.
Gandhi has been taking on the Centre time and again over its approach to tackling the second wave of the pandemic in the country. On Monday, he said a “policy paralysed GOI cannot secure victory over the virus.”
India is in the grips of a devastating second wave of the pandemic, marked by oxygen shortages, and lack of hospital beds and medicines.
On Tuesday, the country reported 3,57,229 new coronavirus cases, taking the tally in the country to 2,02,82,833. The death toll increased by 3,449 to 2,22,408.
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