HM Amit Shah says Mamata govt NOT allowing trains ferrying migrants workers to WB

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has said the West Bengal government is not allowing trains with migrant workers to reach the state that may further create hardship for the labourers. In a letter to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Shah said not allowing trains to reach West Bengal is “injustice” to the migrant workers from the state. Referring to the ‘Shramik Special’ trains being run by the central government to facilitate the transport of migrant workers from different parts of the country to various destinations, the home minister said in the letter that the Centre has facilitated more than two lakh migrant workers to reach home. Shah said migrant workers from West Bengal are also eager to reach home and the central government is also facilitating the train services. “But we are not getting expected support from the West Bengal. The state government of West Bengal is not allowing the trains reaching to West Bengal. This is injustice with West Bengal migrant labourers. This will create further hardship for them,” Shah wrote and also posted the accusation on his official Twitter account. Meanwhile, West Bengal Governor Jagdeep  Dhankhar has gone on record alleging mismanaging lockdown norms and fudging data related to COVID-19 infected people in the eastern state.  Earlier, Governor had requested Minister for Railways Piyush Goyal to arrange trains for the return of the migrant workers intending to return to their home state following lockdown necessitated to combat coronavirus.  Railways have decided to pay 75 of the ticket prices plus food to the travelling workers and states have been asked to reimburse only 25 per cent of the train fare. Piyush Goyal claims tickets are handed to the states concerned.