NE NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, MAY 4
The Pradesh Congress Committees (State Units) will bear the cost of rail travel of needy home-bound migrants stranded at various places across the country due to the coronavirus-induced lockdown, announced the party President Sonia Gandhi on Monday.
Congress President Smt. Sonia Gandhi's heartfelt message on the safe return of all migrant workers & labourers to their homes and the Party's resolve to ensure the same. #CongressForIndia pic.twitter.com/ZZt0VBQWPl
— Congress (@INCIndia) May 4, 2020
The Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President D.K. Shivakumar initiated the move. He had hand over Rs. 1 crore to the State Chief Secretary to bear the rail fare of the migrant workers. This has prompted the Congress high command to expand it to entire nation.
When Rail Ministry has the largesse to donate ₹151cr to PM’s Corona fund, then why can’t these essential members of our nation’s fabric be given a fraction of the same courtesy, especially free rail travel?: Congress President Smt. Sonia Gandhi#CongressForIndia pic.twitter.com/geoddH8WxR
— Congress (@INCIndia) May 4, 2020
This would be the Congress party’s humble contribution in standing shoulder to shoulder with these workers, who are the backbone of the country’s economy and have contributed to the nation’s development, the statement issued by Sonia said.
एक तरफ रेलवे दूसरे राज्यों में फँसे मजदूरों से टिकट का भाड़ा वसूल रही है वहीं दूसरी तरफ रेल मंत्रालय पीएम केयर फंड में 151 करोड़ रुपए का चंदा दे रहा है।
जरा ये गुत्थी सुलझाइए! pic.twitter.com/qaN0k5NwpG
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 4, 2020
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also tweeted in Hindi, “On one hand, the railways is charging ticket fares from labourers stranded in other states while on the other hand, the Railway Ministry is donating Rs 151 crore to the PM-Cares Fund. Just resolve this puzzle.”
Subramanian Swamy joins issue with Sonia
How moronic of the Government of India to charge steep rail fares from the half starved migrant labourers! Indians stranded abroad were brought back free by Air India. If Railways refuse to budge then why not make PM CARES pay instead?
— Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) May 4, 2020
Later in a tweet, the senior BJP leader Subramanian Swamy said “Talked Piyush Goel office. Govt will pay 85% and State Govt 15% . Migrant labour will go free. Ministry will clarify with an official statement”
Terming the decision as historic, AICC general secretary K C Venugopal and Chief Spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the Congress state units will pay to the State Chief Secretaries, the cost of train travel of the migrants and there will be no registration of workers as it will lead to further confusion.
LIVE: Special Media Byte by Shri @kcvenugopalmp and Shri @rssurjewala via video conferencing https://t.co/LFXiOeQt58
— Congress (@INCIndia) May 4, 2020
The two leaders also urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to shed his “false prestige” and come forward in paying for travel of migrants seeking to return home.
They alleged that the Congress had taken the decision after many such workers and labourers did not have the money to pay for their tickets.
Meanwhile, the BJP accused the Congress of doing politics on the issue and claimed that the central and the state governments were bearing the cost of such train travels and no tickets were being charged from the migrant.
Venugopal, however, read out a circular stating state governments will pay the railways after collecting fares from migrant workers. Surjewala also termed the central government’s remark as negative and said it is not the time to play politics.
Sonia Gandhi accused the central government and the Indian Railways of completely ignoring the demands made by the Congress for ensuring the safe and free travel of migrant workers and labourers to their homes.
“There needs to be provisions for the safe and free rail travel of migrant workers and labourers to their home towns. However, despite our repeated demands, the central government and the Railway Ministry have chosen to completely ignore the same.
“The Indian National Congress (INC) has, therefore, taken a decision that every Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) shall bear the cost for the rail travel of every needy worker and migrant labourer and take necessary steps in this regard,” the statement said.
She said this will be the Congress party’s humble contribution in service of the compatriots and to stand shoulder to shoulder in solidarity with them.
Congress treasurer Ahmed Patel tweeted, “As directed by Congress president, in my capacity as treasurer (AICC), I request Pradesh Congress Committees to mobilise all possible local resources to help migrants purchase tickets to get back home.
As directed by Congress President,in my capacity as Treasuer(AICC) I request Pradesh Congress Committees to mobilise all possible local resources to help migrants purchase tickets to get back home
Let us make this into a ppl’s movement,pls contact AICC if you require assistance
— Ahmed Patel Memorial (@ahmedpatel) May 4, 2020
“Let us make this into a people’s movement, please contact AICC if you require assistance,” he added.
Congress leader P Chidambaram said the party’s decision puts the government to shame.
Congress President’s decision to direct PCCs to bear the cost of rail transport for migrant workers is a historic decision. Puts the Government of India to shame
— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) May 4, 2020
“The Congress president’s decision to direct PCCs to bear the cost of rail transport for migrant workers is a historic decision. Puts the government of India to shame, he said.
Sonia Gandhi criticised the central government for not recognising its responsibility and said if it can bring back free of cost citizens stranded abroad by air, why can’t the same responsibility be shown towards the poor migrants who are considered the ambassadors of the nation’s growth.
“But what is the responsibility of our government? Even today, lakhs of workers and migrant labourers are languishing in different parts of the country and wish to return to their homes and families but there is neither adequate money nor provision for free transport.
“What is particularly disturbing is that the central government and the Railway Ministry are charging them for train tickets in this hour of crisis,” she said.
The Congress president said workers and labourers form the backbone of India’s economy and their hard work and sacrifice are the foundation of the nation.
She said this is the first time post-partition of 1947 that India witnessed a tragedy as thousands of migrants were forced to walk home.
Venugopal said he has already talked to state Congress chiefs and they are working out the modalities to ensure that migrants stranded reach home safely.
“We have already given direction to state PCCs to have coordination with state Chief Secretaries and the Railways to arrange for this fare. We are not going to have registration of migrant labours as it will add to the confusion,” he said.
“We do not want to play politics in this. This is not the time to play politics. Those who are having no money are unable to travel in these trains, that is why our Karnataka PCC has paid for them. This is there in Kerala, where migrants do not have money to pay.”
The dignity and welfare of labourers who have built this nation, is of utmost importance to us.
As per the call given by our leader Smt. Sonia Gandhi, we are ready to bear the railway costs to bring Kannadigas back home.
I appeal to @CMofKarnataka to take necessary action soon. pic.twitter.com/wXHFzcq0ru
— DK Shivakumar (@DKShivakumar) May 4, 2020
He said the state PCC in Karnataka has already made a beginning by depositing Rs 1 crore with the state Chief Secretary and would provide more in case required to ensure safe return of every migrant labour.
Surjewala also urged the government to wake up from its slumber and come to the aid of migrants.
“Even today we call upon the PM to leave the false prestige and utilise thousands of crores in COVID-19 PM Care Fund. We urge the Railways to withdraw its order issued earlier to ensure travel of every migrant labour and workers is made free,” he added.
