The PM Modi's address on lockdown extension invokes his admirers. But then hardly had he announced any sops, Jandhan etc. to the poor nor even mouthed a fruitful word to middle classes and for even industries and agricultural sectors. The opposition parties tore apart the lockdown extension speech of the PM.
"Amazing #PM address. Exhortation, rhetoric, inspiration.....yet hollow on specifics! No financial package, no details, no concrete item. Neither 4poor nor middle class nor industry nor businesses. #Lockdown is good bt cannot be end in itself! Where is single livelihood issue? #PM, pl be assured all stakeholders wl do their duties. V wl strictly observe #LDown; wl wear mask; wl boost immunity; download arogya app; look after poor; not fire employees. After this: shd v pray? We want concrete palliatives 4these deprived classes &even 4middle india &MSMEs," Congress MP Abhishek Singhvi tweeted.
"We reciprocate the PM’s New Year greetings. We understand the compulsion for extending the lockdown. We support the decision But beyond the lockdown, what was ‘new’ in PM’s new year message? It is obvious that livelihood for the poor — their survival — is not among the priorities of the government. CMs’ demand for money elicited no response. Not a rupee has been added to the miserly package of March 25, 2020. From Raghuram Rajan to Jean Dreze, from Prabhat Patnaik to Abhijit Banerji, their advice has fallen on deaf years. The poor have been left to fend for themselves for 21+19 days, including practically soliciting food. There is money, there is food, but the government will not release either money or food. Cry, my beloved country," former finance minister P Chidambaram tweeted.