New Delhi: Rajya Sabha MP and senior BJP leader Subramanian Swamy slammed the Narendra Modi government Monday for charging rail fares from migrants seeking to return home amid the nationwide lockdown.
In a tweet, Swamy called the government “moronic” and said: “Indians stranded abroad were brought back free by Air India. If Railways refuse to budge then why not make PM CARES pay instead? (sic)”
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
Swamy’s statement echoed Congress’ criticism of the government for charging migrant labourers returning home. Calling migrant workers the “backbone” of India’s economy and “ambassadors” of the nation’s growth, the party Monday announced that it would pay for the train fare of migrants.
In a letter released today morning, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi said: “When our Government can recognise its responsibility by arranging free air travel for our citizens stranded abroad, when the government can spend nearly Rs 100 crore on transport and food etc for just one public programme in Gujarat, when the Rail Ministry has the largesse to donate Rs 151 Crore to the 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…”
An hour after his first statement, however, Swamy posted another tweet saying he has spoken to Railway Minister Piyush Goyal’s office and that labourers will “go free”.
“(The government) will pay 85 per cent and the State government (will pay) 15 percent. Migrant labour will go free. (The Railways) Ministry will clarify with an official statement,” he tweeted after his first statement.
Talked Piyush Goel office. Govt will pay 85% and State Govt 15% . Migrant labour will go free. Ministry will clarify with an official statement
— Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) May 4, 2020
No official statement from the railway ministry or Piyush Goyal has been released so far.
Also read: Bihar ready with 7,500 hotel rooms to screen 25 lakh returning migrants: Health minister
‘Govt should bear costs on humanitarian grounds’
Swamy and Sonia aren’t the only ones speaking out against the government for charging train fare from migrants.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot have also called for the government to bear the costs on humanitarian grounds.
Migrant workers boarding the Shramik Special trains, which were functioning at two-third of capacity, had to reportedly pay for their tickets depending on their destinations.
Those travelling from Surat to Puri had to pay Rs 710 and Rs 250 for a journey from Ahmedabad to Agra. Passengers in Bhiwandi who were headed to Gorakhpur had to pay Rs 800, a journey that usually costs Rs 745.
Railway Chairman V.K. Yadav has been quoted by The Indian Express as saying that it was a “conscious call not to run these trains free of cost“.
“Problem is once you make services free, everyone is eligible to travel. Then who is coming to the stations; who all are travelling would become a problem to track. This service is for stranded migrant workers, students etc. only and they are allowed to travel only after thorough screening. These trains are not for the general public,” Yadav said.
Also read: Railways run first special train to ferry stranded migrants from Telangana to Jharkhand