India's Congress Party Slams Government Over Charging Stranded Migrant Workers for Train Tickets

In a strong statement against the Indian government's decision to charge train tickets from stranded migrant workers and laborers going back to their homes after several weeks of lockdown, India's main opposition Congress party has declared that it will bear the cost of rail travel for such migrants. Party president Sonia Gandhi criticized the government for charging stranded workers for train tickets during a time of crisis, saying that it was a shocking display of insensitivity. Gandhi recalled the massive human tragedy that occurred when thousands of migrant workers and laborers were forced to walk hundreds of kilometers on foot without food, medicine, or transportation, simply to return to their families and loved ones.

Key Takeaways:

• The Indian government has been criticized by the opposition Congress party for charging train tickets from stranded migrant workers and laborers going back to their homes after several weeks of lockdown.
• Party president Sonia Gandhi said that her party will bear the cost of rail travel for such migrants, describing workers and laborers as the backbone of India's economy and ambassadors of national growth.
• Gandhi criticized the government for giving only a four-hour notice of the lockdown, leading to workers and migrant laborers being denied the opportunity to return to their homes.
• Since the start of the nationwide lockdown on March 25, thousands of workers and migrant laborers have been stranded in different parts of the country, wanting to return to their homes and families but lacking the means.
• The Indian government has issued an order to allow the movement of migrant workers, pilgrims, tourists, students, and other persons by special trains operated by railways.
• The nationwide lockdown is expected to end on May 17, but the impact of the lockdown on migrant workers and laborers has been severe.

Statistics:

• Thousands of migrant workers and laborers have been stranded in different parts of the country since the start of the lockdown on March 25.
• Workers and laborers have had to walk hundreds of kilometers on foot without food, medicine, or transportation, simply to return to their families and loved ones.
• The Indian government has issued an order to allow the movement of migrant workers by special trains, with operations to begin as soon as possible.
• The nationwide lockdown is expected to end on May 17, but the full impact of the lockdown on migrant workers and laborers remains to be seen.
• The Congress party has decided to bear the cost of rail travel for needy workers and migrant laborers, with each Pradesh Congress Committee taking necessary steps to facilitate this decision.

Sources:

• Xinhua News Agency, "India's main opposition Congress party criticizes govt for charging migrants for train tickets", May 4, 2020.