The Congress in Karnataka on
Tuesday welcomed the extention of the COVID-19 lockdown till May 3, though it flayed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not announcing any programme to support the slowed down economy.
Reacting to the lockdown extension, Congress president D K Shivakumar said it was much needed to control the virus but expressed his displeasure for not offering any relief measure to uplift the economy which is witnessing slump.
"We had expectation that some package would be offered but that was not done. The manufacturing sector, service sector, agriculture sector and even the medical sector was looking for some relief but that was not the talking point of the Prime Minister," Shivakumar told reporters.
However, he maintained that the party would cooperate with the Centre in its fight against COVID-19.
Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah said he was "disappointed" that there was no programme announced to improve the economy, which is at the lowest level in 30 years.
"The economy has collapsed. Never ever in 30 years it had witnessed such a downfall. Industries are closing down. Agriculture in bad shape. poeple have no money. Villages are in distress," the former chief minister said.
He opined that Modi should have make some announcement with regard to economic programmes and assistance to the weaker section.
"Labourers today are on the streets. Their programmes do not touch them. People had lots of expectations which are now meaningless," Siddaramaiah said.
However, he underlined that he does not oppose the lockdown and appealed to the people to support it wholeheartedly.
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