Jubilee Post News & Views
Ratan Mani Lal
Usually a crisis is best opportunity for political parties to improve their image and make their presence felt. At a time when the ruling party is busy in dealing with the crisis the opposition has the opportunity to take out shortcomings, give unwarranted suggestions, and also register objections and no party lacks behind in doing so.
During the threat of spread for coronavirus in the state the officials are busy doing things they feel is necessary and opposition parties are doing what was expected from them.
The Congress party was the first had welcomed the financial package and had said to support the government. Rahul had even said this package as the ‘first correct step by the government.’ But at the state level the reactions are different.
The letters from Priyanka
Congress general secretary Priyanka Vadra started writing letters on this issue. She wrote first letter on March 24 to the district and city presidents of the state unit of Congress. She asked them to help with all possible means to people. She said that workers should leave behind the party differences and that they should rise above personal gain or loss and help people to make lockdown a success.
Her next letter was to Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on March 27 and gave assurance of helping the state at party level. She said that to help people there is a workforce of volunteers and workers of the Congress party who will help reach assistance to people and help administration.
The third letter by Priyanka was to major telecom companies heads and requested to relax validity by a month for incoming and outgoing keeping in view the problem faced by migrant peopolation.
She wrote to Mukesh Ambani of Jio Telecom, Kumar Mangalan Birla of Vodafone-Idea, PK Purwar of BSNL and Sunil Bharti Mittal of Airtel. It is obvious that her letter was a positive step which was appreciated by one and all. it is another matter that other Congress leaders are either escaping from making statement or are attacking central government or prime minister Narendra modi.
Akhilesh has a different stand
Now come to Samajwadi Party. Party president and former chief minister Akhilesh has said that in such a situation the ruling party has greater responsibility but the main opposition party SP is also sensitive towards the plight of the people. he then appreciated many leaders of the SP who are engaged in distributing food and water and offering medicine to sick people. Helping elderly and also offering sinancial help.
In another statement he suggested thet the BJP government may suggest the district magistrates to distribute Samajwaadi Rahat packets to people.
This scheme was launched for places that had flood or lacked water resources during Samajwadi Party rule in state. Among other suggestions Akhilesh asked to start Samajwadi pension scheme, Kisan Samman Rashi scheme.
It seems Akhilesh on one had wants to boost up its party leaders and workers and on the other hand wants to remind of the schemes during his regime.
Where is BSP
BSP leader Mayawati is silent on this issue. She had welcomed prime minister decision on lockdown on March 25 and had issued statement to provide free items to poor. The next day she had appreciated the financial package by the central government.
Apart from this Mayawati did not made any suggestion, demand or criticism. It appears that due to political losses in the past few years Mayawati is avoiding any political statement and is also troubled with the political disability among workers.
BJP has a different stand
Being the ruling party BJP and its workers are working since the beginning. teams are made at booth level on the directions of the top leaders and are engaged in relief work and distributing food an, medicine and other items.
All the MPs, MLAs from their funds have announced financial assistance. It is obvious that as per the style of RSS the BJP workers are also working in a disciplined manner. There is no problem of money or resources.
A period of crisis
There is no doubt that the coronavirus crisis is not for one country but for the entire world and there is no example on how to fight from it from the past. If parties and people forget differences and work together we shall have time to do the traditional politics once again.
