Facing flak, Karnataka resumes train services for migrant workers
Bengaluru/IBNS: After facing flak for cancelling special trains for the stranded migrant workers, the Karnataka government has decided to resume services from Friday, media reports said.
The Karnataka government, which is headed by Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, has sent letters to nine states seeking consent to operate trains to the southern state for the travelling of migrant workers who would head back to their homes.
The nine states reportedly are Jharkhand, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Manipur, Tripura, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Odisha.
The trains services have been requested to operate between May 8 and 15.
Yediyurappa Govt cancelled train services
The Karnataka government on Wednesday cancelled all trains which were about to take all migrant workers to their homes, following a meeting between Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa and property builders.
Yediyurappa had said the travel of the migrant workers has to be controlled as the business, construction work and industrial activities have resumed in all parts of the southern state barring red zones where maximum Covid-19 cases have been reported.
Opposition corners Govt
Congress, the main opposition party in Karnataka as well as in the country, on Wednesday condemned the move asking whether the country was still "practicing bonded labour?"
"The decision to go back or to stay back should be with the labourers & not with the government. Labourers are free to choose health or work. Who will take responsibility if something goes wrong? Are we still practicing bonded labour? For me #MigrantLivesMatter!!" Congress leader Siddaramaiah had said.
The decision to go back or to stay back should be with the labourers & not with the government. Labourers are free to choose health or work. Who will take responsibility if something goes wrong?
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) May 6, 2020
Are we still practicing bonded labour?
For me #MigrantLivesMatter!!
3/4
"Had the interests of labourers been taken care by the concerned stakeholders, migrants may have stayed back. Even govt did little to address their concerns.
I strongly urge @CMofKarnataka to arrange trains for those migrants who wish to go back.#MigrantLivesMatter," his tweet read.
Had the interests of labourers been taken care by the concerned stakeholders, migrants may have stayed back.
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) May 6, 2020
Even govt did little to address their concerns.
I strongly urge @CMofKarnataka to arrange trains for those migrants who wish to go back.#MigrantLivesMatter
4/4
Slamming the Karnataka government for cancelling the trains, political activist Yogendra Yadav had tweeted, "There should not be any doubt anymore. Charging 'normal' fare and cutting down on shramik trains is not a bad bureaucratic decision. This is a political decision to keep migrant workers hostage."
There should not be any doubt anymore. Charging 'normal' fare and cutting down on shramik trains is not a bad bureaucratic decision. This is a political decision to keep migrant workers hostage.
— Yogendra Yadav (@_YogendraYadav) May 6, 2020
https://t.co/0zdXKTshU0
(Main Image: UNI)
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