Amarinder Singh says poor have been contributing in producing foodgrain and also working in factories
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Thursday demanded that the centre give Rs 10,000 to the poor and provide financial assistance to small and medium enterprises to resume operation.
In a video message as part of the Congress party's ''Speak Up India'' campaign, the Chief Minister said, "We want the government to give Rs 10,000 to poor people."
The government should give this amount to poor people who have been contributing in producing foodgrain and also working in factories, he said.
The Chief Minister also sought financial assistance to micro, small and medium enterprises for reviving them.
The Congress on Thursday launched a ''Speak Up' India'' campaign to help raise the voice of the poor, migrants, small businesses and the middle class people before the central government.
Punjab Sports Minister Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi also sought immediate payment of Rs 10,000 to poor families.
Besides, the minister also demanded monetary assistance of Rs 7,500 per month for the next six months to those families who are out of the Income Tax ambit, he said.
In his message, Mr Sodhi accused the centre of having miserably failed in providing any relief to people during lockdown.
He said the state government was bearing the cost of travel of migrant workers who are returning to their native places while asserting that the state government was committed to extend all possible help to people in these challenging times.
If the Union government did not pay heed to this sensitive issue, the Congress party would launch a nationwide agitation and force it to help the people in need, said Mr Sodhi in a statement.
Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar while highlighting the "pain" of migrant workers, demanded that the Union government provide free train travel or bus service to send them home.
In his message, Mr Jakhar accused the Modi government of forgetting the poor people.
He demanded the central government immediately transfer Rs 10,000 in the bank accounts of every poor family as the lockdown had "devastated" the economy of every section and the "worst hit" was the poor.
He also demanded relief for small traders and shopkeepers, saying the middle class families also need money to survive by keeping the business going and not the package.