Lockdown broke backbone of unorganised sector in 21 days: Rahul

Concluding his series of ‘explainer’ videos on the Narendra Modi government’s economic policies, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi described the COVID-19 lockdown as an “attack on the poor”.

Rahul had last week released a video that described demonetisation, the implementation of GST and the COVID-19 lockdown as three attacks on the unorganised sector. He then released videos on all three events.

Rahul released the fourth video in the series, which focussed on the COVID-19 lockdown.

In the video, Rahul noted, “The poor, those working in small and medium businesses, are daily wage earners. They eat with what they earn each day. When you announced a lockdown (on March 24) without notice, you attacked them.” Rahul then turned his attention to a statement made by Prime Minister Modi while announcing the lockdown. Modi had said the fight against COVID-19 would be for 21 days. Rahul claimed, “The Prime Minister said the fight will be for 21 days; the backbone of the unorganized sector broke in 21 days.”

Rahul also reiterated the Congress party’s demand for monetary assistance to the poor by direct bank transfers. “When it was time to open after the lockdown, Congress party told the government several times that helping the poor is essential. A scheme like NYAY will have to be implemented, money needs to be directly deposited in bank accounts. But they didn’t do it,” Rahul said.

“We suggested that for small and medium businesses, you should prepare a package. They need to be saved. Without this money, they will not be able to survive, but the government did nothing. Instead, the government waived off taxes worth lakhs of crores of the richest fifteen-twenty people. The lockdown was not an attack on corona. The lockdown was an attack on the poor of India. It was an attack on the future of our youth,” Rahul alleged.

The latest video also has statistics. These include claims that 97 lakh people returned to their native places, and the possibility that up to 7 lakh small businesses could shut due to lockdown.

On Sunday, Rahul uploaded a video on the implementation of GST.

"This GST is an absolute failure. Not only is it unsuccessful, it is an attack on the poor and on the small and medium businesses," he said in the video series shared on his social media platforms.

"Another major reason for the historic decline in GDP is the Gabbar Singh Tax (GST) of the Modi government. It has destroyed a lot: Lakhs of small businesses, crores of jobs and the future of youth and the financial health of states. GST means economic devastation."