Mrs Sonia Gandhi termed the migrant workers as ‘Ambassadors of nation’s growth’
TNW, New Delhi, May 4: The Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi on Monday said that party’s state units will bear the cost of train travel of every needy migrant worker. This will be the Indian National Congress’ humble contribution in service of our compatriots and to stand shoulder to shoulder in solidarity with them, she said.
In a statement Mrs Gandhi said, it is ‘disturbing’ that the Railways and the Union government are charging the train fare to stranded migrant labours when it could spend nearly ₹100 crores on a public programme in Gujarat, a veild reference to the Namaste Trump programme which was held to honour American President Donald Trump.
“When the Rail Ministry has the largesse to donate Rs. 100 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 asked.
“Post the Partition of 1947, this is the first time India witnessed a tragedy with such a massive human cost as thousands of migrant workers and labourers were forced to walk home several hundred kilometres on foot — without food, without medicines, without money, without transportation, without anything except for the desire to return to their families and loved ones. The very thought of their plight is enough to break our hearts as there was also the outpouring of support from fellow Indians for their inspiring resolve,” she said.
“Our workers and labourers are the ambassadors of our nation’s growth. When our government can recognise its responsibility by arranging free air travel for our citizens stranded abroad, when the government can spend nearly ₹100 crores on transport and food etc. for just one public programme in Gujarat, when the Rail Ministry has the largesse to donate ₹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,” asked Ms. Gandhi.
