H Vasanthakumar wanted COVID-19 to be declared a national disaster in March. (Proceedings)
New Delhi:
H Vasanthakumar, the deputy of Tamil Nadu’s Kanyakumari Congress who died on Friday after contracting the coronavirus, had pointed out the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic in parliament earlier this year, suggesting measures to address the crisis, only to be interrupted and have your microphone. cut.
“Mr. President, we have to announce a national disaster due to the coronavirus affecting the entire nation. A zero-income situation will definitely affect loan repayments. I urge the government to reschedule small business and individual loan repayments for at least three months, “the legislator had said during a session in March when parliament was still functioning.
“Daily gambling has been negatively affected. I urge the government to pay a minimum of Rs 2,000 per family …,” he said, before Lok Sabha Chairman Om Birla asked another lawmaker to speak.
When Mr. Vasanthakumar was seen requesting one more minute to speak, moving on to suggest an exemption from the goods and services tax, Mr. Birla asked Saugata Roy from the Trinamool Congress to take over and told the congressional deputy with a smile: “Mic bandh (off)”
After his death on Friday, a video of the exchange was widely shared on Twitter, generating strong responses.
On March 20 Kanyakumari MP #Vasanthakumar ji in his speech of Lok Sabha kept the demand to declare #COVID ー 19 as “National Disaster”.
He also spoke about direct profit transfers to daily gambling and to help small businesses.
He was interrupted with a laugh in a few seconds.RIP sir ???? pic.twitter.com/L5ezM2b6l4
– Niraj Bhatia (@ bhatia_niraj23) August 28, 2020
Many of the measures Mr. Vasanthakumar suggested were later announced by the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi months later as part of the much-talked about “20 lakh crore rupees economic package.”
The 70-year-old leader who had been admitted to a hospital in Chennai on August 10 after testing positive for the coronavirus died after contracting severe pneumonia. He is survived by his wife, two sons and a daughter, a party spokesman said.
H Vasanthakumar, a first-time deputy from Tamil Nadu, had also been elected MLA twice in the past from the Nanguneri assembly constituency and was the acting chairman of the state congressional committee.
He also founded Vasanth & Co, a chain of consumer electronics and appliance stores, and Vasanth TV, a satellite entertainment channel.
From humble beginnings as a salesman, H Vasanthakumar went on to have his smiling face on billboards and advertisements for his vast retail chain in Tamil Nadu.
Prime Minister Modi was one of those who condemned the death, saying: “His advances in business and social service efforts were remarkable.”
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