Devendra Fadnavis Attacks Uddhav Thackeray Govt, Says Migrants on Mumbai Streets Is Very Serious Incident

Mumbai, April 14: Senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday blamed the Shiv Sena-led Maharashtra government for hundreds of migrant workers gathering outside Bandra railway station here by defying the coronavirus lockdown norms. Terming it as a "very serious" incident, the former chief minister said it was the responsibility of the state government to arrange for proper food for the workers, but it did not happen.

On the other hand, Maharashtra minister and NCP leader Nawab Malik said the workers gathered outside the station allegedly after a message about trains resuming operations started doing rounds. He said Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray had been demanding the Centre to facilitate the return of the migrant workers to their respective native states, but the Centre did not allow it. Bandra Incident: Maharashtra Govt to Take Strict action Against Those Who Spread Rumours About Special Trains For Migrant Labourers Amid COVID-19 Lockdown, Says Anil Deshmukh.

Devendra Fadnavis' Tweet

"It is a very serious incident that thousands of workers took to the street in Bandra. This picture pains my mind. It is the responsibility of the state to arrange for the workers from outside the states, to give them proper food, facilities," Fadnavis tweeted.

The Leader of Opposition said the state government should learn a lesson from this incident and take care that such incidents do not recur. "But it is unfortunate that the Centre is being blamed in such a situation to escape (from the responsibility). The fight against corona(virus) is not political, please note this at least now. It is my earnest request that we fight this battle seriously," he said on the micro-blogging site.

Fadnavis did not name any leader who blamed the Centre for the incident though Maharashtra Tourism Minister Aaditya Thackeray has pointed fingers at the Centre for the protest by hundreds of migrant workers near the railway station. Thackeray also sought a road map to facilitate the return journey of workers to their states.

Another BJP leader Kirit Somaiya targeted the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government, questioning how come these many people gathered outside the station and what the intelligence wing was doing.

"From where these people came? How suddenly so many could gather there in spite of (section) 144 (of CrPc being in force)? Since the lockdown started, Bandra Police never allowed more than 4 persons to gather there. Then how and why today?" Somaiya asked.

Meanwhile, Malik said Thackeray had been demanding the Centre to make arrangements so that the migrant workers could return to their native states, but the NDA government did not allow it. "Migrant workers were demanding to go to their villages and hence the crowd. It is said that somebody circulated a message that a train is to leave (for the home states of the migrant workers)...If anyone has indeed circulated such a message, it will be probed into," Malik said.

Maharashtra Revenue Minister and Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat said the state government had arranged for the accommodation and food for the workers, who are now not willing to stay back in Maharashtra. "Thousands of people gathered near Bandra to head back to their native states. This is an explosion, the Centre should look into this and take steps," the state Congress chief said.

He also said the prime minister announced extension of lockdown, but did not answer the issues concerning the commoners. Thorat also charged the Centre with not providing the state with enough PPE kits and other medical equipment required to fight the coronavirus.

Hitting back at Somaiya, Maharashtra Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant said the biggest problem with the country is that it has "irresponsible and insensitive" leaders like Somaiya who allegedly thinks of a conspiracy angle during the crisis.

"Shld we say same for #Surat or Delhi incidents? Problem of migrants need to be understood with empathy which #bjp doesn't hv," Sawant tweeted. He further claimed the migrant workers are more interested in returning to their respective villages than getting food.

Former Maharashtra minister and Congress leader Naseem Khan asked the BJP to stop politicising the issue and urged all parties to come together to fight the coronavirus. He also demanded that the state government act against those who spread the rumour that the train services will resume.