Rahul Gandhi cancels all his public rallies in West Bengal
New Delhi, 18 April (HS): Keeping in view the rapid rise in the number of Covid-19 cases in the country, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday cancelled all his public rallies in poll-bound West Bengal. He advised all other political parties to think about the consequences of holding large public rallies.
In a tweet, Rahul Gandhi said, “In view of the Covid situation, I am suspending all my public rallies in West Bengal. I would advise all political leaders to think deeply about the consequences of holding large public rallies under the current circumstances.”
The Congress has been critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for holding political rallies amid the rise in coronavirus cases in the country.
Earlier, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram has accused the prime minister of shocking callousness for holding big political rallies in poll-bound Bengal amid the rise in COVID-19 cases.
He said the prime minister Narendra Modi should be at his job, sitting at his desk and coordinating with chief ministers in handling the COVID pandemic instead of holding and addressing the public rallies.
Prime Minister has been addressing public rallies in West Bengal for the eight-phase assembly elections in the state. India has been witnessing a massive surge in coronavirus cases.
Meanwhile senior congress leader Kapil Sibal on Sunday urged the Prime Minister to declare a national health emergency.
The former Union minister also called on the Election Commission to declare a moratorium on election rallies in view of the sharp rise in COVID-19 cases.
In a tweet, Sibal said, “COVID-19 infections faster than recoveries. Modiji: Declare a National Health Emergency. Election Commission: Declare a moratorium on election rallies. Courts: Protect people’s lives.”
A record single-day rise of 2,61,500 coronavirus infections has taken India’s total tally of COVID-19 cases to 1,47,88,109, while active cases have surpassed the 18-lakh mark, according to Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday. The country has recorded over 2 lakh cases consecutively for the last four days.
