Prime Minister Narendra Modi's lockdown extension receives mixed reactions from Congress

PM Narendra Modi has announced extension of the complete lockdown of the country till May 3. PM Modi is addressing the nation after much anticipation for days as the nationwide lockdown imposed for 21 days comes to an end today. The congress however slammed PM's speeech and describing it as confused and empty talk with no concerete steps.Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said the PM’s address was like Hamlet without the Prince of Denmark. Meanwhile, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala asked about the country’s roadmap to fight coronavirus.

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram said, “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,” he said on Twitter. On the other hand, Congress leader Manish Tewari slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for comparing the numbers of Covid-19 deaths and infection with that of other countries as this is a human tragedy.  "It is not appropriate for the Prime Minister to compare the numbers with other countries but could have said that we are better equipped than other countries," said Manish Tewari. Former commerce and industry minister Anand Sharma said at an official briefing that “the Indian economy cannot remain locked down indefinitely”

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.

— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) April 14, 2020

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?

— Abhishek Singhvi (@DrAMSinghvi) April 14, 2020

I support the announcement by @PMOIndia@narendraModi of #Lockdown extension. Can't discard the gains being made. But he should have also announced serious relief for those who cannot make ends meet. MNREGA payments, JanDhan accounts, GST dues to states,&aid to sweeten the pill.

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) April 14, 2020