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The Congress party on Wednesday asked the PM government how it plans to take the country forward post lockdown 3.0 amid the coronavirus pandemic. At a meeting of chief ministers of Congress ruled states, party president Sonia Gandhi wanted to know about the criteria which the Central government was following to extend the lockdown.

“What after May 17? What criteria is the Centre using to judge how long the lockdown will continue,” Gandhi asked at the meeting with Congress CMs.

Former prime minister and senior Congress leader Manmohan Singh too posed a similar question during the meeting. We need to know what will happen after lockdown 3.0. Chief Ministers need to deliberate and ask as to what is the strategy of the Government of India to get the country out of lockdown? Singh noted.

Former party president Rahul Gandhi also spoke during the meeting and pointed out that a central piece of COVID-19 strategy is to protect the elderly, those with diabetes and heart condition.

Former union finance minister P Chidambaram rued that the Centre has failed to provide money to states amid the unprecedented situation. States are bleeding in terms of finances but no money is being allocated by the Centre, he stated.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot demanded a stimulus package from the Centre amid the COVID-19 pandemic that has brought the economy to a virtual halt. Until extensive stimulus package is given, how will the states and the country run? We have lost Rs 10,000 crore in revenue, Gehlot pointed out at the meeting.

Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh slammed accused the Centre of classifying coronavirus zones without consulting the state governments. “Concern is the people sitting in Delhi decide classification of COVID-19 zones without knowing ground reality,” Singh said.

“States facing dire economic crisis, they need immediate assistance,” Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel said.