COVID-19: Congress CMs accuse Modi govt of taking decisions arbitrarily

The Congress-ruled states have accused the Narendra Modi government of pushing them towards fiscal distress by not providing them with financial assistance to fight COVID-19 and deal with its economic fall-out even as they criticised the Centre for its alleged arbitrariness in taking decisions on the measures to be taken on the ground.

The chief ministers of the Congress-ruled states, at a meeting with party chief Sonia Gandhi today, were unanimous in attacking the Modi regime for not allocating to them adequate resources and pointed out that the real fight against the disease was being fought at the state level. The CMs were of the opinion that they will yet again write to the prime minister, seeking financial assistance.

The Congress CMs want a Rs 2 lakh crore package to be announced for the states as also immediate disbursal of the money due to them under the Goods and Services Tax. It was said at the meeting that the situation was true for all the states, and not just the opposition-ruled ones. It was stated that some of them may not be speaking up at this juncture because either they belong to the BJP or because of pressure from the Centre.

It was also stated by some of the participants in the meeting—amid the criticism of the Centre for increasing the prices of petrol and diesel—that if the Modi government was earning Rs 1.6 lakh crore annually through the taxes levied on petroleum, 75 per cent of the amount should be transferred to the states so that it can be utilised in the fight against coronavirus.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said, “Until extensive stimulus package is given, how will states and the country run? We have lost Rs 10,000 crore of revenue. States have repeatedly requested the prime minister for a package, but we are yet to hear from the Government of India.”

Punjab Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh mentioned that the state has set up two committees, one to strategise on how to come out of lockdown and another on economic revival. He criticised the centralisation of COVID decision-making, saying, “The concern is people sitting in Delhi are deciding on classification of zones without knowing what is happening on the ground.”

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said, “States are facing dire economic crisis. They need to be provided immediate assistance.” He said that 80 per cent of small industries have restarted in his state and nearly 85,000 workers have returned to work.

“The Government of India is deciding on zones without consulting the states and this is creating an anomalous situation. People sitting in Delhi can't tell the states. No state or chief minister is consulted. Why?” asked Puducherry Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy. He also criticised the prime minister's silence on the states' demand for an economic package.

The meeting also discussed the roadmap ahead after lockdown 3.0, and it was felt that there seems to be no clear planning or an exit strategy on the part of the Centre.

The states assured that, in keeping with the Congress chief's announcement that the party will bear the cost of the travel of migrant workers back home, they have decided to pay for their commute and have asked Railways for special trains. Punjab CM informed that Rs 35 crore has been set aside and Railways is charging Rs 870 per ticket, which the state is paying.

Setting the tone for the meeting, the Congress president stressed upon the need for a clear strategy for exiting the lockdown. “After May 17th, what? And after May 17th how?...What criteria is the Government of India using to judge how long the lockdown is to continue?,” she asked. Gandhi thanked the farmers, particularly of Punjab and Haryana, for ensuring food security by bumper wheat crop.

The meeting was attended by former prime minister Manmohan Singh, ex-party chief Rahul Gandhi, former Union ministers P. Chidambaram and M. Veerappa Moily, AICC general secretary in charge of organisation K.C. Venugopal and AICC communications department head Randeep Surjewala.

Manmohan Singh also spoke on the need for greater clarity on the road ahead after lockdown 3.0. 

“Soniaji has already pointed out that the chief  ministers need to deliberate and ask as to what the strategy of the Government of India is to get the country out of lockdown,” he said.

Rahul said the centrepiece of the strategy to fight COVID should be to protect the elderly as also those who are diabetic and with a heart condition.

Chidambaram spoke about the fiscal distress of the states, saying while they were bleeding in terms of finances, no money was being allocated by the Centre.