Congress will pay migrants' train ticket fare: Sonia Gandhi
New Delhi/IBNS: Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi on Monday slammed the PM Narendra Modi-led Indian government for not giving migrants stranded by the coronavirus lockdown a free train ride to their home.
In her statement, Gandhi referred to the "Rs. 100 crores" spent on an event in Gujarat during US President Donald Trump's visit to India this year and Rs 151 crore contributed by the railways to the PM-Cares fund.
Statement Of Congress President Smt. Sonia Gandhi
— Congress (@INCIndia) May 4, 2020
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
"What is particularly disturbing is that the Central government and the Rail MInistry are charging them for train tickets in this hour of crisis," she 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 crores on transport and food etc. for just one public programme in Gujarat, when the Rail Ministry has the largesse to donate Rs. 151 Crores 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, at this hour of acute distress," she said.
She said the Pradesh Congress Committee will bear the cost for the rail travel of every needy worker and migrant labourer.
"This will be Indian National Congress' humble contribution in service of our compatriots and to stand shoulder to shoulder in solidarity with them," the party said.
The Indian government last week extended the lockdown for another two weeks.
Meanwhile, the Indian Railways is operating special trains since Friday for migrants to travel to their home states.
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