The Shiv Sena on Saturday praised Rahul Gandhi for setting an example for how an Opposition leader should behave in a crisis and said the Prime Minister should hold one-on-one talks with the Congress leader on fighting the coronavirus pandemic.

The party referred to Rahul’s news conference on the pandemic on Thursday in which he offered constructive suggestions and underlined the need for a united fight.

In an editorial in party mouthpiece Saamana, the Sena said Rahul “recognised the coronavirus threat well in advance and continuously warned the government to take necessary steps”. Even when the Madhya Pradesh government was being pulled down, Rahul was trying to “wake the government up” to tackle the coronavirus.

“He also said that the lockdown was not a remedy, but just a ‘pause button’ in the coronavirus fight. He said once the lockdown is lifted, the virus will once again spread, which is why tests should be conducted on maximum number of people. His statement that lockdown doesn’t kill the virus, but allows the government to create medical facilities is completely true,” the Sena said. “We need a concrete strategy to come out of the lockdown.”

Thoughts expressed by Rahul are like a “chintan shibir” (brainstorming session) After hearing Rahul, “we feel that he and Prime Minister Modi should hold direct talks on the coronavirus crisis at least once”, it added.