The ‘Speak Up India’ Campaign
The Congress party launched ‘Speak Up India’ movement to draw attention to the plight of migrant labourers and raise public support for their help. Lakhs of migrant labourers have been left jobless due to the nationwide lockdown and forced to vacate their shelters in the cities and rush to their home states.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi, in a video message shared on the party’s social media, criticised that the central government has failed to address the immediate needs and concerns of these helpless labourers and workers.
Sonia Gandhi asked the government to transfer ₹7,500 to every migrant worker and poor family for the next six months and an immediate cash transfer of ₹10,000 to tide over the difficulties caused by the COVID-19 lockdown.
Launching the ‘Speak Up India’ campaign on social media platforms, she also asked the government to ensure free transport for migrant workers, free ration and provide 200 days of employment under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in villages to which they had returned.
In a video message on Congress’ official Twitter handle, Ms. Gandhi said after the 1947 Independence, India had witnessed for the first time such largescale migration of people where workers were forced to walk thousands of kilometres without food, water or medicines. The Congress leader expressed:
“Their pain, agony and sobs were heard by every heart but perhaps not the government. Crores of jobs had been lost, lakhs of businesses destroyed, factories had shut and farmers were running hassled to sell their produce. The whole country has experienced this pain but the government perhaps does not have any idea about it.”
Former Congress president, Rahul Gandhi also urged the Centre to provide immediate cash assistance to the poor families in India and increase the MGNREGA working days to 200 days.
Former Union minister P. Chidambaram said the party demands that each migrant worker family returning to their homes be given free transportation. “After being tested, each migrant family should be given Rs 10,000 to tide over the present crisis,” he said.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra too came forward and spoke about the 'Speak Up India' campaign and shared her views against the Modi government. She laid out her points through a video interaction. She said that our mother, our land - India is crying right now. Its citizens are struggling; this is no time for politics.
A large number of party leaders and workers shared videos on social media as part of the online endeavour, which was accompanied by the hashtag #SpeakUpIndia.
