Finance Minister (FM) Nirmala Sitharaman on May 17 termed the meeting of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi with the migrants in National capital a “dramabaazi” and stated that the Congress should “be more responsible” and work together with the Union government in the wake of current scenario.
In other words, the FM asserted that she is very sad to say, but she is “now using their words and call them ‘dramabaz’. What happened on May 16 was not dramabazi? They wasted the time of the migrants in just talking”. Adding that it is time to join hands, FM also stated that she is “requesting the Congress to work together in this situation. It feels sad to see the picture of the migrants.”
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The FM said on May 17, if the Congress is feeling so much sad about the picture, “why the state government ruled by Congress or their allies is not demanding more trains for the migrants to ensure all reach home”? Instead of doing that, “They are wasting time in talking to the migrants who are headed home. Better would have been if they carried their children and suitcases instead of just talking”, referring to Rahul Gandhi’s meeting to the migrants.
“Let us speak responsibly, let us deal with our migrants responsibly,” FM urged Congress President Sonia Gandhi. The remarks came a day after Rahul Gandhi on May 16 evening went to meet migrant workers camped out near a flyover in Delhi’s southeast, she added.
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The FM, while addressing the media, asserted that whatever one can do in the current coronavirus crisis is less. “Not just me, but anyone doing anything is less. I don”t want to be involved in any discussion if I have done less or more. I don”t see anything can be adequate. No matter how much you do, it will not be enough (in the current situation),” she asserted.
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Following the IANS news agency inputs here, The Finance Minister also stated that many solutions can be offered and the Central government has taken on board all the suggestions that have come. “We worked on something which we think will have an impact.”
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Adding that nothing will be enough in the situation, she asserted that is why she believes that these issues should not be politicised. “We should have this sympathy in our hearts that how we all can work together to get over this situation. We should plan to deal with the situation with dignity and not indulge in fights,” she stated without taking names.
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Despite the same, The FM stated that the Prime Minister first urged all to stay where they are and asked the states to arrange their food and accommodation. “All who could help in this provided help. Later, a time came when the Centre and the states decided that the migrants should be allowed to move and so trains were being arranged. If migrants are ready to go, they are given food in trains. It feels sad to see that the migrants are walking on roads to their homes”.
(Author: Trilok Singh is with CEO here).
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