Ready to facilitate return of migrants, if you can’t: Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury to Bengal govt

In a video message, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhary offered his help to the West Bengal government and said that he is willing to make all necessary arrangements to facilitate the return of migrant workers from the state stranded in other parts of the country if allowed to do so.

West Bengal: While accusing the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government of “not doing enough” to bring the stranded migrant workers back home to the state, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhary offered his help and said that he is willing to make all necessary arrangements to facilitate their return.

“Lakhs of migrant workers from West Bengal went to other states to get work and have been stranded since the lockdown was imposed. These people can only get back home when the Bengal Government works towards this end in coordination with other states...if she (West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee) allows me, despite being an opposition party leader, I am ready to make all arrangements for their return,” Chowdhury said in a video released on Saturday.

The leader of the Congress party in Lok Sabha also offered to work under the leadership of the West Bengal CM to complete the task.

“I am ready to help with whatever I can. This is not the right time to do politics over the matter. If required, I am ready to work under your leadership, “ added Chowdhury.

He also went on to accuse the nodal officers appointed by the state government for the purpose of not coordinating with their counterparts from other states to facilitate inter-state travel of stranded people.

“As per my knowledge, the nodal officer from West Bengal has not even contacted the nodal officers from other states, and the latter has also expressed concerned regarding the same. They have accused the West Bengal government of not responding to their efforts,” said the Berhampore MP.

After receiving much criticism for not helping the lakhs of stranded migrant workers to get back home as they struggle to survive amid a nationwide lockdown, the Ministry of Home Affairs on Friday issued an order allowing the movement of migrants by special trains operated by Ministry of Railways, which has further given powers to all the zones to coordinate with state nodal officers to make arrangements to ferry these workers from various States.