Amid COVID-19 Crisis, Sonia Gandhi Urges PM Modi to Put Foreign Trips on Hold

New Delhi, April 7, 2020:

Congress President Sonia Gandhi has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to suspend all his foreign trips to save money for dealing with the prevailing situation arising out of Covid-19.

Gandhi, in her five-point suggestion to PM Modi on how to conserve capital to combat Covid-19, suggested that he, along with other Ministers should suspend all their foreign trips until the situation is tackled.

"All foreign visits including that of the Prime Minister, Union Ministers, Chief Ministers, State Ministers and bureaucrats must be put on hold in a similar fashion. Exceptions can be made in case of special emergency or exigencies in national interest to be cleared by the PM. This amount (which is around Rs 393 crores for just the Prime Minister and Union Cabinet’s trips in the last five years) can be utilised extensively in measures to combat Covid-19," suggested Gandhi.

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Gandhi has also sought a complete ban on media advertisements – television, print and online – by the Government and Public Sectors Undertakings (PSUs) for a period of two years, with exceptions only on advisories for Covid-19 or issues relating to public health.

“The Central Govt currently spends an average. of Rs 1250 crores per year on media ads, this will free up a substantial amount to alleviate economic and social impacts of Covid-19,” she said.

The Congress president has urged the PM to suspend the ‘Central Vista’ beautification and construction project worth Rs 20,000 crore. “I am certain that Parliament can function comfortably within existing historical buildings. There’ is no urgent requirement that cannot be postponed until this crisis is contained. This sum could instead be allocated towards constructing new hospital infrastructure and diagnostics along with equipping our frontline workers with PPEs and better facilities,” Sonia said.

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In her five-point suggestion list, Gandhi included the need to order a proportionate reduction of 30 percent in the expenditure budget (other than Salaries, Pensions and Central Sector Schemes) for the Government of India. "This 30 percent (i.e. ₹2.5 lakh crores per year approximately) can then be allocated towards establishing an economic safety net for migrant workers, labourers, farmers, MSMEs and those in the unorganised sector," the Congress president said.

"Transfer all money under ‘PM Cares’ fund to the ‘Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund’ (‘PM-NRF’). This will ensure efficiency, transparency, accountability and audit in the manner in which these funds are allocated and spent," Sonia suggested.

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It may be mentioned here that the letter has come a day after the cabinet decided to slash salaries of MPs by 30 percent.

Sonia conveyed support for the decision and said, "Every single Indian has made great personal sacrifices to fight this disease. They have complied with every suggestion, instruction and decision taken by your office and the Central Government. It is time that the Legislature and the Executive reciprocate this trust and good faith."

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