Congress to launch “Speak Up” campaign on economic crisis created by lockdown

Party’s main demand is assistance of ₹10,000 for every family that falls outside I-T bracket

The Congress will hold a one-day long online campaign on Thursday where all its functionaries right from president Sonia Gandhi and Chief Ministers will come live raising questions about the economic crisis created by the extended lockdown.

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The main demand being raised by the party via the campaign branded as “Speak Up” is assistance of ₹10,000 for every family that falls outside the income tax bracket.

“It is a campaign for the migrant workers who built our cities and are now forced to go back to their villages. It is about those employed in micro, small and medium enterprises who haven’t received their wages. It is also about those who run these enterprises and have no money to pay the bills,” party spokesperson Ajay Maken said at an online press interaction here. He said the party leaders, workers and sympathisers will run live on all social media platforms from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“We demand that transport be made available to all migrants to ensure that they reach home safely, increase their employment days to 200 under the MGNREGA and provide ₹10,000 as immediate financial help to the poor besides a financial package for small industries,” he told reporters

The party contends that giving out loans is not a solution. To save the economy from a collapse it is essential, Mr. Maken said, cash reaches in the hands of the poor and those struggling to stay afloat.

Party’s social media in-charge Rohan Gupta called upon everyone to put up questions and videos that highlight the plight of the migrant workers, small businessmen and all those impacted by the extended lockdown. “We are here to amplify their voices.”