India Mocks Pakistan: Says Our Stimulus Package Equal to Your Country’s GDP
On Thursday, 11th June, the Modi Government Mocked Imran Khan’s government after the Pakistan PM Khan offered to aid Indian citizens running out of money due to Lockdown. On Twitter, Imran Khan tweeted, “Nearly 34 per cent of households across India would not be able to survive for more than a week without assistance. I am ready to offer help & share our successful cash transfer prog, lauded internationally for its reach & transparency, with India,”
After Imran Khan’s tweet, Twitter exploded. He was mocked not only by Indians but also Pakistani twitter users. However, by the end of the day, India’s Ministry of External Affairs too did not miss a chance to take a jibe at Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Imran Khan. India reminded its neighbour that the size of the economic relief package extended by the Indian Government to its citizens during the pandemic is as large as Pakistan’s GDP.
“Pakistan would do well to recall that they have a debt problem which covers 90% of their GDP. As far as India goes, our stimulus package is as large as the GDP of Pakistan,” said Anurag Srivastava, spokesperson for the foreign affairs ministry. It must be noted that, Khan’s tweet was as per the report published in one of the Pakistan’s own news portal, The Tribune. The report stated that, 34% of households across India will not be able to survive for more than a week without additional (sic) assistance.
With ongoing lockdown to tackle the spread of Coronavirus, Government of India announced a stimulus package of 20 lakh crores. Not only this as per reports, nearly Rs 1,051 crore have been transferred to about 59 lakh account holders during the lockdown between March 23 and May 11.
The lockdown period has been one of the toughest for the entire nation. However, life being more important, the nation responded positively to the call of Prime Minister Modi to remain inside their homes. Though the virus is yet to be defeated, India is trying hard to protect itself from the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. Pakistan too is hit hard by the virus but and given the current financial situation of Pakistan’s, Imran Khan’s gesture is taken as a joke more than an appreciation not just in India but around the world.