Govt grants subsidy after Cong offers to pay for migrants’ travel

Saying that it was ‘disturbing’ that the Central government and the railways are charging the migrant labourers for their travel, she said that the party has been demanding ever since the clamping of the nation lockdown that there needs to be provisions for the safe and free rail travel of migrant workers and labourers to their home-towns.

“However, despite our repeated demands, the Central Government and the Rail Ministry have chosen to completely ignore the same.

“The Indian National Congress has, therefore, taken a decision that every Pradesh Congress Committee shall bear the cost for the rail travel of every needy worker and migrant labourer and shall take necessary steps in this regard. This will be the Indian National Congress’ humble contribution in service of our compatriots and to stand shoulder to shoulder in solidarity with them,” Gandhi said in the statement.

However, the BJP said on Monday the railways has subsidised 85 per cent of ticket fare for special trains being run to transport migrant workers and the State government has to pay the remaining 15 per cent, soon after the Congress attacked the Central government over the issue.

The State government concerned can also pay for the tickets, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said. He

said the Madhya Pradesh government is doing so and asked Rahul Gandhi to tell the Congress-ruled States to follow suit. He was responding to Congress leader

Rahul Gandhi’s attack on the railways for charging poor migrant labourers ticket fare, even as it donated over Rs 151 crore to the PMCARES Fund.