NEW DELHI: In an apparent attack on the West Bengal government, BJP chief J P Nadda hit out at the Opposition-ruled states accusing them of using the State machinery to silence dissent.“In the last few days, it has been observed that in the Opposition-ruled states, the State machinery has been used unfairly to target BJP workers and independent voices on social media (who are) critical of the local government’s handling of the Covid-19. In a vibrant democracy, this is unacceptable,” Nadda said.
Opposition should adhere to political arguments, when questioned on their failing, he said in another tweet. He also sought to boost the morale of the party workers who are “being targeted” that the party stood with them. “We will defend your right to free speech and resist these tyrannical forces in the democratic framework,” Nadda said.
Stimulus package panned
The Opposition on Monday slammed the Centre’s Rs 20 lakh crore stimulus package to revive the economy as a ‘farce’.Dubbing the package as ‘Modi Covid Care’, CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury said it would neither help in fighting the pandemic nor in addressing people’s problems, let alone putting the country on the path of self-reliance.“There is no self-reliance without people’s welfare. Those who urgently and immediately need help are walking hungry on the roads or looking for a meal from somewhere,” Yechury said.
Congress leader and former finance minister P Chidambaram said the stimulus package had left the bottom half of the population, including migrant workers, farmers, landless agricultural labour and daily wagers high and dry. Accusing the government of bypassing stakeholder consultation and “deliberately sidelining Parliament”, he said, “You can’t fool all the people all the time. This fiscal stimulus package is inadequate.”