Don't exhaust ammunition, hold some for backlash, Rahul Gandhi advises govt

Calls for categorising areas into 'hot zones' and 'safe zones', and ramping up random testing to remain ahead of the virus instead of chasing it

Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday asked the government to prepare for an imminent “massive financial backlash” brought on by a host of factors including spiraling unemployment.

He said the government's priority should be to protect the people from the virus, provide them a food safety net, distribute foodgrains from India’s overflowing stocks, and also put in place strategic plans to ensure the lockdown and slowdown do not damage the country’s economy grievously.

“Keep in mind to not use all your ammunition right now, if you use it now, we end up with a real financial backlash, we will