Union Home Minister Amit Shah called Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray after a protest by a large number of migrant workers at Mumbai's Bandra on Tuesday evening against the coronavirus lockdown and expressed concern.
In a telephonic conversation, Shah said that such events weaken India's fight against coronavirus and the administration needs to stay vigilant to avoid these. He also offered his full support to the Maharashtra government, said officials.
Over 1,000 migrant workers gathered at Bandra Railwaystation in suburban Mumbai demanding transport to return to their states, hoursafter Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an extension of thecoronavirus-enforced lockdown till May 3.
Thackeray, while speaking to the media said, "They thought the trains will start and they will go home."
Mumbai has a large number of migrant workers whohave been left without jobs and homes after all economic activity shut down inattempts to check the rapid spread of COVID-19 in the country.
The police claimed the crowds dispersed after theywere assured food and shelter by the administration. The migrants were mostlyfrom Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh. Drones were used to makepublic announcements warning them against gathering.
Mumbai has more than 1,500 cases of COVID-19 in thecountry's financial capital, which is over half the 2,300-plus cases inMaharashtra.
State Tourism Minister Aaditya Thackeray, the son ofthe Chief Minister, blamed the central government and sought a roadmap tofacilitate the migrants' journey home.
In a series of tweets, Thackeray said, "The current situation in Bandra, now dispersed or even the rioting in Surat is a result of the union government not being able to take a call on arranging a way back home migrant labour… They don't want food or shelter, they want to go back home."
More than six lakh people are living in sheltersacross Maharashtra, he said.
