Congress MP from Tamil Nadu’s Kanyakumari, H Vasanthakumar, who succumbed to coronavirus on Friday, had flagged the seriousness of the COVID-19 pandemic in parliament earlier this year.
Congress MP from Tamil Nadu’s Kanyakumari, H Vasanthakumar, who succumbed to coronavirus on Friday, had flagged the seriousness of the COVID-19 pandemic in parliament earlier this year, suggesting measures to tackle the crisis. He was interrupted and his mic was cut off.
“Speaker sir, we have to announce a national disaster due to coronavirus affecting the whole nation. A zero-revenue situation will definitely impact the repayment of loans. I urge the government to reschedule the loan payment of small businessmen and individuals at least for three months,” the Congress MP had said in Parliament in March when the house was still functioning.
“Daily wagers have been adversely affected. I urge upon the government to pay a minimum of ₹ 2,000 per family…” Vasanthakumar had said before Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla asked another MP to speak.
The MP from Kanyakumari was seen requesting one more minute to suggest a waiver of the Goods and Services Tax, when Mr. Birla asked Trinamool Congress’s Saugata Roy to take over, telling the Congress MP with a smile: “Mic bandh (off)”
After his demise, a video of this interaction was widely circulated on social media, drawing sharp responses from users.
The 70-year-old leader was admitted to a hospital in Chennai after testing positive for coronavirus on Aug 10. He died after he contracted severe pneumatic.
According to a party spokesperson, Vasanthakumar is survived by his wife, two sons, and a daughter.
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