New Delhi: Monday, saw political Twitter embroiled in claims and counter-claims. Facts were countered with ‘alternate facts’ (thank you, Donald Trump), statements were made and later retracted on the issue of migrants being allegedly charged for railway tickets home.
All in all, plenty of confusion — and at the end, we were none the wiser who is paying for the migrants’ fares.
Led by President Sonia Gandhi, Congress announced Monday morning that it will bear the costs of railway tickets charged to migrants.
Statement Of Congress President Smt. Sonia Gandhi
The 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 labourer and shall take necessary steps in this regard pic.twitter.com/kxruKa0xgI— Congress (@INCIndia) May 4, 2020
Soon after, BJP Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy used some rather harsh language — for his own government asking migrants to pay.
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
State Congress wings rushed in eagerly to do their President’s bidding, led by Manickam Tagore, Secretary AICC.
@INCTamilNadu has decided to donate Rs 1 crore to TN CM to be used exclusively for bearing the transport cost. Congratulations for being the first PCC @KS_Alagiri to do so? #Congress with people https://t.co/LgNn0As0MR
— Manickam Tagore MP??✋மாணிக்கம் தாகூர் (@manickamtagore) May 4, 2020
BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya tried to explain away the controversy – demanded states pay for the fares.
Shame on Congress for politicising migrant movement issue.
MHA guidelines are clear.
“No tickets to be sold at any station”
Railway has subsidised 85% and State Govts pay rest 15% (like Madhya Pradesh is)
Migrants DON’T pay!
Why doesn’t Sonia ask Congress state Govts to pay? pic.twitter.com/HvTBFKvIlN
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) May 4, 2020
Taking a cue from Congress, RJD leader and opposition leader Tejashwi Yadav said he is willing to pay for migrants to return to Bihar.
राष्ट्रीय जनता दल शुरुआती तौर पर बिहार सरकार को अपनी तरफ़ से 50 ट्रेन देने को तैयार है।
हम मज़दूरों की तरफ़ से इन 50 रेलगाड़ियों का किराया असमर्थ बिहार सरकार को देंगे। सरकार आगामी 5 दिनों में ट्रेनों का बंदोबस्त करें, पार्टी इसका किराया तुरंत सरकार के खाते में ट्रांसफ़र करेगी।
— Tejashwi Yadav (@yadavtejashwi) May 4, 2020
Meanwhile, former Congress President Rahul Gandhi wondered if the ‘PM Cares’ why doesn’t he pay for the migrants to go home?
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
BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra advises the opposition party how it could fund the fares.
And this is how the Congress ruled State Governments can pay the 15% for the Migrant workers (85% being taken care of by the Railways) rather than politicising the otherwise smooth process taken up by the railways. https://t.co/Axtmen5nY9 pic.twitter.com/RNQdcfNBvB
— Sambit Patra (@sambitswaraj) May 4, 2020
Rajya Sabha MP and Shiv Sena leader Priyanka Chaturvedi had no patience with the ‘excuses’ offered by Railways for charging migrants.
This is such a sad excuse to charge passengers and put the onus on state governments. Were the state governments consulted before 151 crores were contributed by IR to the PM Cares fund, a part of which came from deductions from every railway employees’ salary, in every state? https://t.co/OgRI00edrA
— Priyanka Chaturvedi (@priyankac19) May 4, 2020
Then journalist Somesh Jha confused us even further…
Govt guidelines on transporting migrants:
The Indian Railways will *print* train tickets & give it to the states acc to no. of passengers
States will *hand over* the tickets to passengers, *collect* the ticket fare (from them) & *hand over* total amount to Indian Railways.
— Somesh Jha (@someshjha7) May 4, 2020
And, to add to the confusion, Swamy then claimed that there’s nothing to get worked up about, after all.
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
But political activist Yogendra Yadav is having none of it: if the government is indeed charging nothing, where did the tickets come from?
Q4. If Govt of India cannot run free trains for distressed workers being evacuated in national emergency, isn't it better to shut down our Space Mission? Why worry about the moon and the mars?
Questions for @PMOIndia @RailMinIndia @PiyushGoyal #FreeTrains4Workers pic.twitter.com/bQhxZlmKPd
— Yogendra Yadav (@_YogendraYadav) May 4, 2020
Oh well, we give up.
Let’s turn our mind to other things: National Conference leader Omar Abdullah pleads for the release of three leaders who are still detained under the Public Safety Act (PSA) in Jammu and Kashmir.
Over the next few days the PSA detention orders of @MehboobaMufti, Sagar Sahib, @shahfaesal & others are due to expire. It's high time they are set free & allowed to resume a normal life. There was no justification for their detention much less as extension.
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) May 4, 2020
Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt remembers his mother Nargis on her death anniversary.
It’s been 39 years since you left us but I know you’re always by my side. I wish you were here with me, today & everyday. Love you and miss you everyday Mom. pic.twitter.com/zuunMIXPwg
— Sanjay Dutt (@duttsanjay) May 3, 2020
Actor Shahrukh Khan sang his heart out on a lockdown theme song for ‘I For India’ virtual concert Sunday.
Extremely grateful to #IforIndia, @Its_Badshah & @cacklerraj for music, lyrics & for working overnight. Thanks Sunil for the edit. All so that I could sing. Ab bhai,lockdown mein mujhe gaate hue bhi jhelna padhega. AbRam is saying 'papa enough now!’ Par Sab Sahi Ho Jaayega! pic.twitter.com/T7eLzBuC9Q
— Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) May 3, 2020
Indian football team captain Sunil Chhetri offers a catchy deal to Netflix.
In the true spirit of a barter, how about you guys hand the kid a two-month subscription and I'll send a signed shirt and a picture your way? Do we have a deal? https://t.co/Ub0WaMcutg
— Sunil Chhetri (@chetrisunil11) May 3, 2020
And lastly, US President Donald Trump is “glad” to see someone back. Guess who?
I, for one, am glad to see he is back, and well! https://t.co/mIWVeRMnOJ
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 2, 2020
With inputs from Shubhangi Misra