On Monday, Congress Interim President Sonia Gandhi slammed the government for charging railway fare for stranded migrants who are longing to return to their homes in the middle of a nationwide lockdown due to the novel coronavirus outbreak.
After slamming the government, the Congress President announced that the Indian National Congress would bear the charges of all stranded people. In a statement released, Sonia Gandhi said,
“Indian National Congress has taken a decision that every Pradesh Congress Committee shall bear the cost for the rail travel of every needy worker and migrant laborer and shall take necessary steps in this regard. This will be the Indian National Congress’ humble contribution in service of our compatriots and to stand shoulder to shoulder in solidarity with them.”
A tragedy like Partition
In the statement released, the Congress President compared the present situation to that of post-partition and said that,
“Post the partition of 1947, this is the first time India witnessed a tragedy with such massive human cost as thousands of migrant workers and laborers were forced to walk home several hundred kilometers on foot without food, without medicines, without money, without transportation, without anything except for the desire to return to their families and loved ones.”
According to an order issued by the Railway Ministry, the ‘Shramik Special’ trains that are deployed to help stranded people reach their homes will charge the state governments. The fare likely would include the cost of sleeper class ticket, the superfast charge of 30 rupees, and 20 rupees for meals and water for one passenger.
In Karnataka, after the BJP government put a heavy price of travel on stranded people, the Pradesh Congress Committee in the state donated 1 crore rupees and pledged to bear any further cost if need be. The state government has now made the transport by road free for stranded people.
The railways will resume operation after a suspension of over a month. On the international labor day, the Railway announced six ‘Shramik Special’ trains for stranded migrant laborers, students, and pilgrims. Preventive measures of social distancing, wearing a mask, and screening of people at both departure and arrival will be in place, as per the government’s assurance.
Source: Free Press Journal
