New Delhi: The Congress MP from Tamil Nadu’s Kanyakumari, H. Vasanthakumar, who died of severe pneumonia after testing COVID-19 positive, had raised the issue of the coronavirus pandemic earlier this year. However, even while he suggested measures to tackle the economic impact of the pandemic, he was constantly interrupted before speaker Om Birla cut his mic off.Vasanthakumar in parliament in March.“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 first-time MP had said on March 20 during a Lok Sabha session, when lockdown measures were yet to be implemented.“Daily wagers have been adversely affected. I urge upon the government to pay a minimum of Rs 2,000 per family…,” he said.But before he could complete his speech, the speaker asked Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy to take over. Vasanthkumar was seen requesting another minute to speak to suggest a GST waiver to meet the economic challenges posed by the pandemic but Birla with his characteristic smile interrupted to say, “Mic bandh (off)”.The speaker’s approach reflected that of the Modi government, which had taken the threat posed by the novel coronavirus lightly throughout the first two weeks of March, even as the rest of the world was taking active measures to counter its spread. On March 5, 2020, for example, Harsh Vardhan, the health minister was attacking the opposition for “demoralising” Indians by warning of an impending disaster:It’s really sad that Gandhi family chooses to demoralise our countrymen by likening a serious global crisis as #CoronaOutbreak to one of the deadliest peacetime marine disasters in history. @RahulGandhi obviously ‘knows’ better than @WHO which is saying there is no need to panic https://t.co/XVbVL46nTM— Dr Harsh Vardhan (@drharshvardhan) March 5, 2020At a time when the Union government has attempted to paint the pandemic and resultant economic decline as an “Act of God”, Vasanthakumar’s untimely death has drawn sharp responses on social media.On 20th March Kanyakumari MP #Vasanthakumar ji in his Lok Sabha speech kept demand of declaring #COVIDー19 as “National Disaster”..He spoke also for direct benifit transfers to daily wagers & to help small businesses ..He was interrupted with laugh within few secs..RIP sir🙏 pic.twitter.com/L5ezM2b6l4— Niraj Bhatia (@bhatia_niraj23) August 28, 2020Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted to condole his death. “Saddened by the demise of Lok Sabha MP Shri H. Vasanthakumarji. His strides in business and social service efforts were noteworthy. During my interactions with him, I always saw his passion towards Tamil Nadu’s progress. Condolences to his family and supporters. Om Shanti,” he said.The Tamil Nadu Congress pays its respects to MP H. Vasanthkumar, on Saturday, August 29, 2020. Photo: PTI/R. Senthil KumarInterestingly, many of Vasanthkumar’s suggestions to tackle the crisis were included in the Union government’s “Rs 20-lakh crore economic package” later.The 70-year-old Vasanthkumar is survived by his wife and three children. Before he was elected an MP in the last general elections, he had been a MLA from Nanguneri assembly constituency twice. He was also serving as the working president of the Congress unit of Tamil Nadu.He owned a consumer electronics chain in Tamil Nadu Vasanth & Co and entertainment satellite channel Vasanth TV.