People Are Facing Hardships: Ramesh Chennithala

The ongoing battle against the novel covid-19 pandemic has brought together political parties of all hues. While they may be fighting this battle collectively, there are some parties that think the government could have done more.

In an interview with BW Businessworld, Ramesh Chennithala , Leader of Opposition , Kerala INC, spoke about how his state is fighting the pandemic and more.

Excerpts

Do you think the govt at the centre is doing enough to combat the COVID-19 pandemic?
This is not the time for the assessments as the priority should be put to fight the pandemic. We all have to support the preventive measures taken by the Centre and follow the guidelines. At the same, there are urgent needs to be taken care of. While India has ramped up testing in recent days, there is a need to enhance the testing and size of the samples further. People are facing hardships. The centre should come out with concrete steps to address this rather than calling for ringing bells and lighting lamps. These kinds of symbolic acts in the face of a deadly virus have prompted thousands of people to violate the strict social distancing norms and lockdown. This should be avoided.

Can you tell us about the set of recommendations that you have submitted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi?
As a responsible opposition both at state and national level, we have constituted an expert panel to suggest the safest transition back to post lockdown period. Our recommendations focus on lifting the lockdown in a staggered approach at a district level with an emphasis given to hotspots to avoid further spread while ensuring we can restart the economy more smoothly. We have suggested a detailed roadmap for the district level assessment of the situation.  There is a need to improve national-level coordination of preventive actions across the country. The Centre should announce a comprehensive economic stimulus package in addition to the ones already announced after considering all the industries. The recommendations also suggest constituting all-party committees at Central and state levels for better communication coordination.

How do you see the government's decision to supply hydroxychloroquine to the US at this time?
It’s fair to supply medicine to foreign countries after meeting India’s domestic needs. We must do that while the world remains clueless about treating Covid19. However, the way Mr Trump asking for help is deplorable. He threatened us and tried to make us obey. Sadly, our PM had no response to the word  ‘retaliation’ threat of Mr Trump. During this time of global crisis, we should help each other but not at the cost of risking people's lives.

How is Kerala dealing with the pandemic, tell us about the initiatives that you have undertaken?
Kerala has a robust health care system which was built over the past several decades by visionary leaders of several governments. We have also a unique style of working together with both the government and the opposition when times such as this come. We support the government’s all initiatives to prevent the spread of the virus and to contain it. This joint effort has proved fruitful in fighting the pandemic so far.  As a responsible opposition, we have also launched our initiatives in this regard. I have set up a control room to assist the needy and have been receiving hundreds of calls every day. We are trying our best to address their grievances through our network. The hygiene campaign launched in social media has also received overwhelming responses. However, the mounting deaths in the northern district of Kasargod due to the shutdown of border by Karnataka has caused concern. The stand taken by Karnataka government is deplorable. The Central Government should intervene immediately to resolve the deadlock.

Finally, in your view has the absence of a strong opposition created a big vacuum in todays' political landscape, what are the ways to address it?
First of all, I don't agree with your proposition. The Opposition led by the Congress Party under the leadership of Smt Sonia Gandhi and Sri Rahul Gandhi has been acting as a credible opposition in the country. On the contrary, I feel that most of the national media in the country has become silent on Modi and his government. They rarely criticise the Government and often sidelines the critical views raised by the opposition. Some of them have become totally biased. This has created an image that there is an Opposition vacuum. This perception will change in sometime as people expects credible action from the Government. The Congress party is the only secular and development alternative in this country which can accommodate the diversities of this nation state. This party lives in the hearts of Indian citizens. Electoral setbacks are common, but the relevance of the party is commensurate with existence of Indian Nation. I believe, Congress is the only party which has an Indian DNA and is here to stay.