Karnataka back on ‘track’ with special migrant trains
Flip-flop seen as fallout of ‘pressure’ from builders
BENGALURU:
As with earlier issues during the lockdown, the Karnataka government has enacted a flip-flop by first requesting the railways for special trains to ferry migrant workers back to their home states, and then in less than a day withdrawing the ‘request’. Observers see this as ‘pressure tactics’ from the construction sector as a large-scale exodus of construction labour will badly affect building projects. Significantly, a delegation of builders had met Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Tuesday, hours before the changed stand of the government.
The same day, the Chief Minister had made an impassioned appeal, the second time in a week, to migrant workers to stay, assuring them that they would get work.
Video shows migrants walking back
However, such assurances are unlikely to make the majority of migrant workers change their mind about returning home, as the lockdown has left them virtually high and dry.
In fact, a video posted by Byatarayanapura MLA Krishna Byre Gowda on social media showed at least 300 migrant labourers walking on the stretch between Hebbal flyover and Devanahalli in Bengaluru on Wednesday.
The Congress MLA tweeted, tagging the CM: “State government cancels trains. Thousands of people, in groups of 10-20, are just WALKING TO U.P. This is inhuman. They are so disturbed to walk home, please don’t force. Some may die. Govt cannot be the paid agent of real estate lobby. Send them well so they want to come back. Walking on Bellary road, 5.30 pm.”
“I spoke with Chief Secretary, K’taka and urged him strongly to reconsider decision to cancel trains. They may be poor. But they are humans.They are not bonded labourers,Like Indians abroad want to come home, these ppl also want to & have a right to go to their home & their family”
“They are humans not machines owned by real estate companies. Give them the choice to stay and work or reunite with their family,” tweet further reads.
Earlier on Tuesday, Revenue Department Principal Secretary N Manjunatha Prasad, who is the nodal officer for migrant affairs, had requested South Western Railway to run two train services a day for five days except Wednesday, when the state government wanted services thrice a day to Danapur in Bihar.
However, Prasad wrote another letter within a few hours, saying that the special trains were not required. “Since the train services are not required from tomorrow, the letter cited under reference above is withdrawn,” he wrote to the SWR General Manager.
Railway officials said they had received the letter seeking withdrawal of the previous one requesting special trains.
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