The BJP on Thursday hit out at Rahul Gandhi for his claim that lockdown is not a solution to the coronavirus pandemic and asked why then the states where the Congress is in power extended it before the central government did so.
The ruling party also contested the Congress leader's claim that India was not doing enough testing, saying the number of tests carried out by it are one of the highest at this level of infections.
Senior BJP leaders B L Santhosh and Vinay Sahasrabuddhe attacked Gandhi while party spokesperson Sambit Patra mocked him by playing on certain words and phrases used by the former Congress president.
"While the Govt has a catch-the-bull-by-horns approach and is trying to defeat Covid-19, he (Gandhi) is airing views with an approach that smacks of a 'given up' mentality, certifying that 'it can't be controlled' but will have to be 'managed'! Painful, seriously!" Sahasrabuddhe said.
Santhosh noted that some states where the Congress is in power had extended the lockdown before Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on April 14 its extension till May 3.
The BJP general secretary (organisation) tweeted, "Lockdown is not the solution acc to @RahulGandhi ... Then why did the CMs of @INCIndia Cong partnered govts extend the lock down first ...? (sic)."
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