Congress Slams Center for Charging Train tickets from Migrant Labourers

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Attacking the Centre on Monday for charging traintickets from migrant labourers going back to their homes, Congress PresidentSonia Gandhi said that their party will bear the cost of the tickets for suchlabourers who will travel to their native place amid the third phase oflockdown starting today.

The Congress president in a statement said that it isdisturbing that the central government and the rail ministry are charging themfor train tickets in this hour of crisis.

Slamming the government, she said even today, lakhs ofworkers and migrant labourers are languishing in different parts of the countryand wish to return to their homes and families but there is neither adequatemoney nor provision for free transport.

 Gandhi, while referring to the "Namaste Trump" event in Ahmedabad on February 24, said that when the government could spend nearly Rs 100 crore on transport and food for just one public programme in Gujarat, arrange free air travel for Indians stranded abroad and when the rail ministry has the largesse to donate Rs 151 crore to the PM's Corona fund why can't free rail travel be provided to migrant workers at this hour of acute distress.

She further stated that our workers and labourers formthe backbone of our economy and the ambassadors of our nation's growth. Theirhard work and sacrifice are the foundation of our nation.

SoniaGandhi, meanwhile, said in her letter that the central government barely gave afour-hour notice of the lockdown, thus denying workers and migrant labourersthe opportunity to return to their homes.

Gandhisaid the Congress has taken a decision that all its state units will bear thecost for the rail travel of every needy worker and migrant labourer and takenecessary steps in this regard.

"Thiswill be the Congress' humble contribution in service of our compatriots and tostand shoulder to shoulder in solidarity with them," she said.

Shortly after her letter, Congress treasurer Ahmed Patel asked all the state units to mobilise all possible local resources. "As directed by Congress President, in my capacity as Treasurer (AICC) I request Pradesh Congress Committees to mobilise all possible local resources to help migrants purchase tickets to get back home," Patel said on Twitter.

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