Lockdown: PM Modi’s speech has disappointed people, Stalin says

B Sivakumar | TNN | Apr 14, 2020, 14:38 IST

M K Stalin

CHENNAI: DMK president M K Stalin on Tuesday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech earlier in the day announcing extension of lockdown till May 3 has disappointed people as there was no mention of any measure to help the needy.
“When will Prime Minister Narendra Modi speak in a way providing comfort to the people who are suffering?,” the DMK chief said in a statement.
"Since the national lockdown was announced on March 24, people are staying indoors, but the government is not providing enough support to them. There are lots of daily wage earners in the country. These people are struggling to remain alive. Is it not the responsibility of the Centre to save such people?" Stalin said.
He said PM’s speech gave only advise to people. "People have heard enough of advice. What they need now is financial support and other relief. The Centre must have announced a policy to support such people much before announcing the lockdown," said Stalin.
He said China had taken care of its people while asking them to be in their residences to control the spread of novel coronavirus. “But that is not the case in India,” said Stalin.
"Former Union finance minister P Chidambaram has said the Centre has a total expenditure of Rs 30 lakh crore in the budget. Will the Prime Minister release Rs 65,000 crore towards providing financial support to the people?,” Stalin asked
He criticised the steps taken by the Centre so far after the lockdown. "The Centre has not released the amount sought by Tamil Nadu. Cancelling the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme and the Centre's order that states must not order medical kits have all gone against people," said Stalin.
"When will the Centre provide testing kits? When will it provide PPE to doctors who are treating Covid-19 patients? People want hear answers to these questions from the Prime Minister," said Stalin.