Row over transporting migrants: Raj minister demands that UP CM be booked

Over the issue of buses for migrants, Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot slammed the UP government for doing petty politics. Meanwhile, Rajasthan Transport Minister Pratap Singh Khachariyawas demanded that the UP CM should be booked for allegedly defying the Centre's order.

Jaipur: Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot on Friday accused the UP government of doing petty politics over the issue of buses for migrants, while another state minister demanded that Yogi Adityanath be booked for allegedly defying the Centre's orders on plying of vehicles.

Rajasthan Transport Minister Pratap Singh Khachariyawas said the UP chief minister first gave clearance for entry of buses but later created "hurdles" by saying that permit and fitness of buses was not valid.

He said that UP chief minister should be booked for allegedly defying the Centre's order which had said that documents such as license, permit and fitness of vehicles will not be checked till June 30.

Speaking to reporters here, Pilot also slammed the Centre for "not making any concrete nationwide policy" for transport of migrant workers.

"Taking help doesn't diminish someone's stature. UP government did politics and blamed Congress. We condemn it. Congress had made arrangement of buses for the migrant workers when there was no help from the Centre," Pilot said.

He said that it is not justified that a ruling party blames the Opposition and that too for extending a helping hand.

Pilot said creating unnecessary hurdles, arresting people and registering FIR shows a "narrow mindset", which is regrettable.

Amid a war of words between Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and the UP government over buses for migrant workers, the Adityanath government had said that the Rajasthan government gave a bill of over Rs 36 lakh for providing buses to ferry students from Kota.

The UP government said on Friday that it has cleared the dues.

The UP chief minister's media advisor Mritunjay Kumar had strongly condemned the demand of Rs 36 lakh, saying it only showed the "inhuman face" of the Rajasthan government.

In April, thousands of students from Uttar Pradesh who were preparing for various competitive examinations in the coaching hub of Kota in Rajasthan were brought back to their homes in buses.

(PTI REPORT)