कांग्रेस अध्यक्षा श्रीमती सोनिया गांधी का देश के नाम संदेश:-कोरोना संकट में डॉक्टर्स, सफाईकर्मियों, पुलिस सहित सर… https://t.co/m5N1fJviti — Congress (@INCIndia) 1586827800000

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The one-size-fit-all lockdown has brought untold misery & suffering to millions of farmers, migrant labourers, dail… https://t.co/QHortoBjmW — Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) 1586789836000

NEW DELHI: The Congress on Monday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to be bold in declaring a financial package worth at least 5 to 6 per cent of India's GDP to ensure economic recovery post the COVID-19 lockdown.Congress president Sonia Gandhi also wrote to the prime minister, seeking 10kg free food grains per person till September to the poor, including migrants who do not hold ration cards.She said the current crisis has pushed many relatively food secure families into food insecurity and poverty, despite India having a large buffer stock of food grains."In our fight against the pandemic we must ensure that no one faces hunger," she said.Ahead of the prime minister's address on lockdown extension Tuesday morning, Rahul Gandhi said the "one-size-fit-all" lockdown should be upgraded using mass-testing to isolate virus hotspots and allow business to reopen in other areas.He said the lockdown has brought misery to millions of farmers, migrant labour and daily wagers."The one-size-fit-all lockdown has brought untold misery and suffering to millions of farmers, migrant labourers, daily wagers & business owners."It needs a 'smart' upgrade, using mass testing to isolate virus hotspots & allowing businesses in other areas to gradually reopen," he said on Twitter.Congress senior spokesperson Anand Sharma said the party demanded the central government pays all pending dues to states to enable them to fight the coronavirus outbreak, besides also giving each of them special economic packages.He said the government must also allow CSR and industry contributions to the CM Relief Funds in various states on the same lines as that granted to PM Cares Fund, as not doing so would amount to being unfair and discriminatory towards states."These are extraordinary times and require extraordinary actions. That is why the prime minister should be bold and declare an economic package to help revive various sectors of the economy post lockdown," Sharma said addressing a press conference via video."We expect that the size of the economic package should be at least 5 to 6 per cent of India's GDP," he said, adding that many countries like the UK,France and Germany have declared economic packages that are 15 percent of their GDP. He said the US has declared an economic package of10 per cent of its GDP.He said the economic package should not be miserly as the previous one of Rs 1.7 lakh crore has not been able to take care of many sections who have suffered due to the lockdown.The senior Congress leader said action is required in this regard and the government at this juncture should not be concerned about the fiscal deficit or inflation.Sharma also said each state must get a special package or grant from the Centre and all all pending dues be paid to states to help them tide over the financial crisis in the wake of economic lockdown.He said since the lockdown was hurriedly imposed, it must ensure its phased lifting which is coordinated seamlessly with states and ensure that the suffering of the poor is mitigated.The former commerce minister said the government must evolve a policy to ensure that no pharmaceutical, insurance and financial sector industry be taken over by foreign entities amid COVID-19 crisis."The government of India has to be very careful. It should tell the SEBI and RBI to take steps in this regard. We are concerned over takeover attempts by foreign entities on pharma industry, as well as some companies in financial and insurance sector," he said."No country in the world allows that. There has to be a policy, India must not allow that to happen," he said, pointing out that India's pharmaceutical sector manufactures some critical medicines.Sharma demanded a special package for the revival of the industry,especially the MSME sector, for which he sought a Factoring Fund together with allowing them funds with zero per cent interest by banks.He cited an ILO study whereby it is feared that 400million Indian workers will sink in poverty due to the prolonged lockdown, as it is unsustainable.Welcoming the provision of 5kg food grains to the poor for three months by the government, Sonia Gandhi said in the letter to Prime Minister Modi said the measures to provide enhanced food grains to the poor are critical to safeguard people against food inflation, at a juncture where supply chain disruptions are causing price rise.She said the release of food grains to states will help create storage space with Food Corporation of India to ramp up the Rabi season procurement.