Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram lashed out at the Centre over the lockdown tax debate. The Congress leader wrote on Twitter, "New or higher taxes are justified only when the economy is booming. Tax burdens on the middle class and poor is actually taxing distress." The leader said the centre is taking away money from the poor and middle class. He said the people need stimulus not surcharge. Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi said, "After May 17th, what? and after May 17th, how? What criteria is government of India using to judge and how long the lockdown is to continue?"