New Delhi: Holding the government responsible for the plight of migrant workers, who are walking to their native places in the wake of the COVID-19 lockdown, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday demanded that it take concrete steps so that the situation "does not become a major tragedy".
He also appealed to Congress workers to help such migrants by offering them food and shelter.
"The government is responsible for this terrible condition. It is a big crime to bring citizens to this condition. Today, in the hour of crisis, our brothers and sisters should at least get respect and support. The government should take concrete steps as soon as possible so that it does not become a major tragedy," Gandhi said on Twitter.
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आज हमारे सैकड़ों भाई-बहनों को भूखे-प्यासे परिवार सहित अपने गाँवों की ओर पैदल जाना पड़ रहा है।इस कठिन रास्ते पर आप में से जो भी उन्हें खाना-पानी-आसरा-सहारा दे सके,कृपा करके दे! कॉंग्रेस कार्यकर्ताओं-नेताओं से मदद की ख़ास अपील करता हूँ।
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) March 28, 2020 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
जय हिंद! pic.twitter.com/ni7vkhRQAZ
">आज हमारे सैकड़ों भाई-बहनों को भूखे-प्यासे परिवार सहित अपने गाँवों की ओर पैदल जाना पड़ रहा है।इस कठिन रास्ते पर आप में से जो भी उन्हें खाना-पानी-आसरा-सहारा दे सके,कृपा करके दे! कॉंग्रेस कार्यकर्ताओं-नेताओं से मदद की ख़ास अपील करता हूँ।
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) March 28, 2020
जय हिंद! pic.twitter.com/ni7vkhRQAZआज हमारे सैकड़ों भाई-बहनों को भूखे-प्यासे परिवार सहित अपने गाँवों की ओर पैदल जाना पड़ रहा है।इस कठिन रास्ते पर आप में से जो भी उन्हें खाना-पानी-आसरा-सहारा दे सके,कृपा करके दे! कॉंग्रेस कार्यकर्ताओं-नेताओं से मदद की ख़ास अपील करता हूँ।
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) March 28, 2020
जय हिंद! pic.twitter.com/ni7vkhRQAZ
He said, "hundreds of our starved and thirsty brothers and sisters, along with their families, are forced to walk down towards their villages".
"If you can, please provide them with food, water, shelter to them during this arduous journey. I particularly appeal for help from Congress workers and leaders. Jai Hind," Gandhi also tweeted in Hindi.
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सरकार इस भयावह हालत की ज़िम्मेदार है। नागरिकों की ये दशा करना एक बहुत बड़ा अपराध है। आज संकट की घड़ी में हमारे भाइयों और बहनों को कम से कम सम्मान और सहारा तो मिलना ही चाहिए। सरकार जल्द से जल्द ठोस क़दम उठाए ताकि ये एक बड़ी त्रासदी ना बन जाए। pic.twitter.com/mM6ktVyQSS
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) March 28, 2020 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
">सरकार इस भयावह हालत की ज़िम्मेदार है। नागरिकों की ये दशा करना एक बहुत बड़ा अपराध है। आज संकट की घड़ी में हमारे भाइयों और बहनों को कम से कम सम्मान और सहारा तो मिलना ही चाहिए। सरकार जल्द से जल्द ठोस क़दम उठाए ताकि ये एक बड़ी त्रासदी ना बन जाए। pic.twitter.com/mM6ktVyQSS
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) March 28, 2020सरकार इस भयावह हालत की ज़िम्मेदार है। नागरिकों की ये दशा करना एक बहुत बड़ा अपराध है। आज संकट की घड़ी में हमारे भाइयों और बहनों को कम से कम सम्मान और सहारा तो मिलना ही चाहिए। सरकार जल्द से जल्द ठोस क़दम उठाए ताकि ये एक बड़ी त्रासदी ना बन जाए। pic.twitter.com/mM6ktVyQSS
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) March 28, 2020
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said when the government can send planes to bring back Indians from abroad, why it cannot provide transport to send the labourers home.
"How can we as a nation just leave thousands of migrant workers to fend for themselves? There are men, women and children who are walking as far as Eastern UP and Bihar," she said.
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How can we as a nation just leave thousands of migrant workers to fend for themselves? There are men, women and children who are walking as far as Eastern UP and Bihar. We sent planes to bring citizens from Europe, why aren’t we organising transport to take the poorest and..1/2 pic.twitter.com/ujLicxnutA
— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) March 28, 2020 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
">How can we as a nation just leave thousands of migrant workers to fend for themselves? There are men, women and children who are walking as far as Eastern UP and Bihar. We sent planes to bring citizens from Europe, why aren’t we organising transport to take the poorest and..1/2 pic.twitter.com/ujLicxnutA
— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) March 28, 2020How can we as a nation just leave thousands of migrant workers to fend for themselves? There are men, women and children who are walking as far as Eastern UP and Bihar. We sent planes to bring citizens from Europe, why aren’t we organising transport to take the poorest and..1/2 pic.twitter.com/ujLicxnutA
— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) March 28, 2020
"We sent planes to bring citizens from Europe, why aren't we organising transport to take the poorest and most vulnerable amongst us home," she tweeted.
She said it is the government's moral duty to help fellow citizens in this time of crisis.
"For God's sake, Modi and Amit Shah please use the power you have been given to save their lives," Priyanka Gandhi said in an appeal to the PM and Home minister.
"Do not give this treatment to our own Indians. We should be ashamed that we have left them in this state. These are our own. Labour is the backbone of the country. Please help them," she said.
She lauded the efforts of UP Congress in helping the people in this hour of crisis.
Former finance minister P Chidambaram termed it "another distressing example of the government's unpreparedness".
The Congress has been critical of the government's handling of the situation, accusing it of not taking adequate steps to mitigate the plight of the migrant labour force.
Congress chief Sonia Gandhi had also written to the prime minister, urging him to take immediate steps to help the poor migrant labour force, who have been forced to return home on foot in the absence of public transport amid the country-wide lockdown due to coronavirus.
Read: Sonia writes to PM, seeks help for stranded migrant workers
Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala also tweeted: "Respected Prime Minister, It is most important to stop this human tragedy. Two pleas: Full ration, half pay. Just food and medicine, Every person should reach home safely."
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आदरणीय प्रधान मंत्री जी,
— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) March 28, 2020 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
इस मानव त्रासदी को रोकना सबसे ज़रूरी है।
दो सूत्र -:
पूरा राशन, आधा वेतन।
बस-भोजन-दवाई का इंतज़ाम,
सुरक्षित घर पहुँचे हर इंसान।#COVID19 pic.twitter.com/kUEMMfyoMQ
">आदरणीय प्रधान मंत्री जी,
— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) March 28, 2020
इस मानव त्रासदी को रोकना सबसे ज़रूरी है।
दो सूत्र -:
पूरा राशन, आधा वेतन।
बस-भोजन-दवाई का इंतज़ाम,
सुरक्षित घर पहुँचे हर इंसान।#COVID19 pic.twitter.com/kUEMMfyoMQआदरणीय प्रधान मंत्री जी,
— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) March 28, 2020
इस मानव त्रासदी को रोकना सबसे ज़रूरी है।
दो सूत्र -:
पूरा राशन, आधा वेतन।
बस-भोजन-दवाई का इंतज़ाम,
सुरक्षित घर पहुँचे हर इंसान।#COVID19 pic.twitter.com/kUEMMfyoMQ
The Union Home Ministry on Saturday changed the rules for assistance under the State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF), facilitating the availability of money for food and temporary accommodation for migrant workers during the 21-day lockdown.
In a communication to all chief secretaries, the ministry also said medical care and clothing can be provided to migrant workers during the period.
(With inputs from PTI)
Also Read: 'India got enough food stocks for even a 6-month lockout due to COVID-19'
