Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar Wednesday lashed out at other states for not caring about his state’s labourers.
“They (migrant labourers) had been working in other states. It was the responsibility of states where they worked to look after them. That did not happen. Most of them were forced to return home,” Nitish Kumar said while addressing panchayat members through video conferencing.
The CM also took exception to them being labelled pravasi (migrant). “How can they be dubbed pravasi when they are working in their own country? Only those persons working outside their country can be labelled as migrants,” he said.
Between 4 and 31 May, an estimated 30 lakh migrants returned to Bihar.
On Wednesday, Nitish used the occasion to assure the returning migrant labourers that his government would provide them employment through MGNREGA and various other schemes, so that they are not forced to return to other states for employment.
He gave out statistics on steps taken by his government to fight the coronavirus, stressing that around Rs 8,500 crore had been spent . “Rs 5,300 has been spent on each quarantined person,” he added, highlighting the steps taken by the Union government such as Rs 1,500 in each Jan Dhan account, free gas cylinders etc.
Also read: Bihar has a lot to lose due to Covid crisis, but Nitish Kumar is the most relaxed CM
CM had opposed return
For a number of weeks, Nitish had opposed the return of migrant labourers, saying that would dilute the spirit of the lockdown, even as states like UP and Gujarat ran buses to bring back their stranded population. In April, as images of migrant labourers walking over 1,000 km to return to Bihar surfaced, the Nitish government reacted only after they had gathered on the state’s border.
In May, lakhs of migrant labourers were sent to quarantine centres where there were complaints about lack of food and basic amenities. The Nitish government, which prided itself on setting up over 14,000 quarantine centres, and which at one time had over 14 lakh migrant labourers, now went for home quarantine instead.
During the Covid 19 crisis, the Nitish government has aired its views against other states several times. Delhi’s AAP government was blamed for triggering off the migrant crisis, and then again playing politics over rail fare for the special trains. Nitish took strong exception to UP CM Yogi Adityanath using buses for the return of migrant labourers of his state.
The influx of migrant labourers has resulted in a massive rise in Covid-19 cases in Bihar. The figure stood at 4,049 Tuesday, of which 2,903 are migrant labourers. Those returning from Maharashtra contribute 713 cases, followed by Delhi (681) and Gujarat (437).
Also read: Unemployment in Bihar haunts Nitish govt in poll year as it grapples with migrant crisis
Why Nitish has spoken at this stage
Nitish Kumar has been under fire from the opposition for the way he handled the crisis. There were visuals of returning angry migrant labourers lambasting him. A large section of these migrant labourers belong to the Extremely Backward Castes (EBCs), which form the backbone of Nitish and the NDA’s vote bank.
Political parties are in election mode for the assembly polls to be held before November this year, and the Rashtriya Janata Dal has been wooing the angry migrants. If they remain angry, it could spell electoral trouble for Nitish.
Shivanand Tiwari, national vice-president of the RJD, said was hiding his failure. “All parties are responsible for the current plight of migrant labourers. But Nitish is not only hiding his failure but also trying to shift the blame on other states. Had he allowed the trains and buses to come in March itself, the number of Covid-19 cases among migrant labourers would not have been as numerous,” Tiwari said.
“The Bihar government is silent on how it co-ordinated with other governments on migrant labourers during the crisis. Migrant labourers were lathi charged in Surat three times. Did Nitish talk to the Gujarat CM on this issue?” he asked. He said the returned migrants were not convinced about Nitish’s offer to give them jobs.
“On Tuesday hundreds of migrant labourers returned on buses sent to them by land owners in Punjab for the kharif sowing,” the RJD leader said, pointing out that many migrant labourers had caught the special trains that were returning to the states they work in.
Also read: Bad food, water fights, 2 toilets for 240 — Bihar’s migrants come home to a different crisis
One who is unable to look after those whose votes have given him the luxurious of life that he is living without doing anything for Bihar is asking other states to look after those who have gone to work there. Nitish Kumar and before this politicians have been fooling people of Bihar and it seems there will be no end to it. Bihar is one of the most corrupt state where people make money without doing anything. Bihar is a place where when marriage is fixed the first question that Bride side ask if the bride groom is making enough money by way of bribes and his position so that he is able to save all the money that he earns through his salary and false billed allowances. Nitish Kumar manipulates and his manipulation has been paying dividend for him. And this time no one can predict if miracle is takes place. Tejaswi Yadav inherits is caste vote bank through his father and the cast equation is so strong be Lalu Yadav corrupt he is the one whom they like most. But would Prashant Kumar, Kanhaiya and Rahul Gandhi come together to fight the poll and bring a new dawn in Bihar?
The BJP has been celebrating Modi’s 6 years in office. It’s a big day.
India now has the highest unemployment rate in 45 years, the lowest GDP since 2000, the highest income inequality in 80 years, Asia’s worst performing currency, a 23% rise in poverty. Its the world’s third worst country in environment protection, is 102nd out of 117 countries in the Global Hunger index, (behind Pakistan,Bangladesh and Nepal) and is the proud possessor of 22 out of the 30 most polluted cities in the world. Truly “a golden chapter” as the PM said last year.
The BJP has been celebrating Modi’s 6 years in office. It’s a big day.
India now has the highest unemployment rate in 45 years, the lowest GDP since 2000, the highest income inequality in 80 years, Asia’s worst performing currency, a 23% rise in poverty. Its the world’s third worst country in environment protection, is 102nd out of 117 countries in the Global Hunger index, (behind Pakistan,Bangladesh and Nepal) and is the proud possessor of 22 out of the 30 most polluted cities in the world. Truly “a golden chapter” as the PM said last year.
The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss and have found their way out of the depths. These people have an appreciation, sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness and deep loving concern. Beautiful people…do not just happen. Good Morning
In the Sky – Locust….
On the Ground – Corona….
Underground – Earthquake..
In the Sea- Cyclone
At Home – Husband
But Aarogya Setu shows:-
*You are Safe*…?♀️?♀️
*घुटन क्या होती है ये उस आदमी से पूछिये जनाब*
*जो व्यापार भी करता हो*
*और मोदी से प्रेम भी करता हो
The end us near my friend.As Covid goes out of hand, Modi goes back to yoga, acronyms and nationalism & dear follower are in the shit house
In the first place, why do they leave Bihar in droves Nitishji ?