New Delhi: Congress President Sonia Gandhi today wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi suggesting various measures to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
In her letter, the Congress President made five suggestions to PM Modi to save money for the fight against COVID-19, including a complete ban on media advertisements by government and PSUs for two years and suspending Rs 20,000 crore the Central Vista beautification project.
Stating that the need of the hour is austerity measures to divert funds to fight against the deadly disease, Sonia Gandhi said, “Impose a complete ban on media advertisements – television, print and online – by the Government and PSU’s for a period of two years.”
“Suspend the Rs 20,000 crore ‘Central Vista’ beautification and construction project forthwith. At a time like this, such as outlay seems self-indulgent to say the least. I am certain that Parliament can function comfortably within the existing historical buildings. There is no urgent or pressing requirement that cannot be postponed until this crisis is contained”.
Congress President and CPP Chairperson Smt. Sonia Gandhi writes to PM Modi suggesting various measures to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. pic.twitter.com/77MzCYiokl
— Congress (@INCIndia) April 7, 2020
“This sum could instead be allocated towards constructing new hospital infrastructure and diagnostics along with equipping our frontline workers with Personal Protection Equipment (PPEs) and better facilities”, she said.
She also called for ordering proportionate reduction of 30 per cent in expenditure budget (other than salaries, pensions and central sector schemes) for the government of India.
All foreign visits of the president, prime minister, Union ministers, chief ministers, state ministers and bureaucrats must be put on hold, Gandhi wrote.
The Congress President also called for transferring all money under the ‘PM Cares’ fund to the ‘Prime Ministers National Relief Fund’ to ensure efficiency, transparency and accountability.