@RahulGandhi Press Conference : Lockdown is a pause button. Once you remove the lockdown, the virus will start its work again

Rahul: The biggest way to curb the spread is to test more. You want to fight the virus, you have to increase the testing. We chase the virus. But we have to move ahead of the virus by testing more. Push testing aggresively.

Rahul: The main force to fight covid 19 is at the state and district level. It is that machinery that can effectively fight this. The fight must not be top down but bottom up. PM must empower forces. MPLAD suspension is not a major issue.

Rahul: What has happened so far on testing is over. There’s no point looking into the past. But we can unitedly figh this battle together going ahead.

Rahul: The govt must not use blunt instrument. Lockdown is not a solution. But it has just postponed the problem. Empower the states. Give them the GST that is due. Action and implement their demands.

Rahul on economic package: the speed at which monetary aid must reach people is not reaching them. Healthcare & economic help are the 2 fronts where we are fighting this battle.

Rahul: Govts godowns are full of grains. This must be provided to the poor. Give nyay to people by putting more money in their account.

Rahul: Unemployment will be a major issue. Empower MSMEs to empower them and employ more.

Rahul: Post lockdown, what will be the medical strategy? How will you ramp up the healthcare sector? Post lockdown, we will have an uptick in the number of cases. What’s our preparation?

Rahul on reopening certain areas: first test more to identify the spread in the areas where you want to open up. When you lock people up, disease also gets locked up. When you will open up, disease will also rush out.

Rahul: There will be a massive financial crisis to deal with. And factor in for financial challenges later. We cannot just let our people suffer in this time. Strategy has to be dynamic. I worry when I see govt using blunt instruments

Rahul: I would have liked if Modi could use more conversation with CMs. I understand Modi ji has a style but we can work around that style.

Rahul: Covid cannot be controlled but dynamically managed. There is a difference between manage and control. The moment we try to control, there will be a problem.

Rahul: Migrants is a problem now bit wilk become bigger. The central govt has to have a policy. The CMs of cong ruled states must handle this issue with utmost care

Rahul: India is the only country in the world which is attempting lockdown with its migrants. Other example is China which operates in a different way. India does not. We are very decentralised in our systems. We have to empower the states.

Rahul: centre needs to control main arteries. But states must have rights to decide what they want to decide.

Rahul: I am advocating a strategic opening. If you don’t test and open, you may see a spurt in cases again which will force a lockdown again.

Rahul: What other countries are doing, I am not interested in that. No other country is as complicated as India.

Rahul: Our covid fight has just started. Declaring victory now will be wrong. We have to systematically fight this.

Rahul: Do not use all your ammunition right now. If we end up with a serious financial blowback later, we will be in a big crisis.

Rahul: Once the disease begins, each nation started asking for kits. Every country wants it now. At a time like this, India is not getting the required number of kits. We will have to some solution around this.