The Congress has yet again raised an alarm over the rising number of coronavirus cases in the country, asserting that the Narendra Modi government’s response has been inadequate and unsatisfactory.

MP Rahul Gandhi, who has been expressing concern over the pandemic since February, tweeted on Wednesday: “Quick aggressive action is the answer to tackling the Coronavirus. India is going to pay an extremely heavy price for our government’s inability to act decisively.”

Senior leader P. Chidambaram suggested that the government should consider drastic steps like total lockdown in badly affected areas.

“Time to declare partial to total lockdown in many towns and cities to contain the spread of Coronavirus. Time to take tougher measures that may cause pain, but it is better to be safe than sorry,” the former Union minister tweeted.

Chidambaram added: “Simultaneously, the government must address the economic fallout of Covid-19 and announce measures to help the poor who will be affected most.”

Several governments across the world have announced short-term relief measures for the vulnerable sections of society, like deferment of payment of EMIs, rent and electricity and medical bills. Some states in India, too, have decided to initiate welfare measures for the poor.

Congress communications chief Randeep Surjewala expressed shock at the number (255) of Indians infected in Iran. “Two days back, the Prime Minister spoke about mobile teams to prevent such a situation. Would humbly request Modi Government to pull up socks and assure every Indian that we stand with them in these difficult times,” Surjewala tweeted.

“Government’s starkest omission is zero instructions vis a vis dental clinics in India numbering over 3,00,000! The aerosol infection is amongst the highest in dental clinics. Please wake up for heaven’s sake & shut down all dental clinics, except for emergent (emergency) procedures!”

Chidambaram had said in an interview on Tuesday that the time had come to take “tougher and firmer, and may be even harsher, measures”.

“I would think that we are likely to fall behind the curve. It is when the number reaches about 100-plus, then there is the danger of the virus being transmitted through community transmission. If you look at what happened in Italy and Spain, leave out China, you will find that it’s in the third week when the number crossed 100, then it jumped dramatically,” the Congress veteran had said.