Stalin calls Centre a ‘money lender,’ says stimulus package won’t help the poor and guest workers

CHENNAI: DMK president M K Stalin said the Centre's Rs 20 lakh crore package to lift Indian economy post lockdown will not help the people, farmers and guest workers.
"A status report submitted to the Supreme Court (SC) by the Union home ministry says there are 4.14 crore guest workers in the country. However, the Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman claimed that the Centre has provided ration to eight crore guest workers. Even during a pandemic, the Centre is only making stylized notifications," Stalin said in a statement.
He said that the Centre should, at least now, distribute money to guest workers, daily wage earners, roadside traders and other poor people without any delay. "The Centre must immediately waive off all loans taken by farmers and provide Rs 5,000 to all guest worker families for three months and Rs 10,000 to roadside traders," he added.
The party president further termed the central government as a ‘money lender.’ “They are only making more announcements about giving loans instead of providing direct financial support. The announcements that were made so far will not even help 50% of the population and the government should see how people are suffering," said Stalin.