New Delhi: As the move of charging migrant workers and labourers for the train journey to their way back to home, is becoming a new flashpoint between the ruling government and the opposition, Railway Ministry has clearly stated that it is purely a prerogative of the states and railway has no role in collecting the travel expanse.
The provision of collection of ticket fares, mentioned in the guidelines of Ministry of Railways, drew fierce criticism from the opposition parties for charging migrant labourers during the crisis of COVID-19.
Earlier today, Congress President Sonia Gandhi launched a scathing attack on Center over the matter and announced that every Pradesh Congress Committee will bear the cost for the rail travel of every destitute worker and migrant labourer to ensure free and safe transportation for them.
While on the other hand, BJP accused Congress party of politicizing this matter and said that Railways has subsidized 85% of ticket fare for special trains being run to transport migrant workers and the state government has to pay the remaining 15% of the fare.
The statement of the ruling party came as a reply to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's attack on Railway Ministry on charging poor migrant labourers for their ticket fare even as it donated over Rs 151 crore to PM-CARES fund.
Meanwhile, Railways has completely denied its role in the planning of a special train and said that the decision of charging migrants for their train journey is 'purely a prerogative' of the State governments.
A Railway official clarified, "As per the guidelines issued, sending states will pay the consolidated fare to Railways. Sending state may decide to bear this cost or take it from passengers or take it from receiving state after mutual consultation or may charge it to any fund. It is purely their prerogative."
He further stated, "Without ticket passengers cannot travel, so we are issuing tickets to each passenger. Charges taken are of the same class which passengers are travelling, which is sleeper class."
Railway Ministry also said in a statement that the running of these special trains will be planned only on the basis of state government's request and Railways has "no role to play" in planning a train. The list of passengers who will be allowed to travel has also been prepared by the states.
Earlier, when the Ministry of Home Affairs allowed the movement of migrant labourers by special trains, various state governments requested the Railway Ministry not to charge migrant labourers for their train journey. But contrary to the state's demands, migrant labourers had to pay a cost for the train journey.
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