20,000 stranded on C’garh borders: Raman
Alleging that more than 20,000 migrant workers are stranded on the state’s borders, former Chief Minister and BJP leader Raman Singh on Friday asked the Congress government to provide relief to them within Chhattisgarh and elsewhere in the country.
It is the responsibility of those running the government to ensure immediate relief and this has to be done in a systematic manner, the BJP national Vice President said, adding that “propaganda” of providing help should reflect on the ground.
Addressing the media through video-conferencing, Singh said: “More than 20,000 state workers are stranded at the borders of the state as migrant workers are arriving on foot or on trucks and other vehicles, some with pass from other states in vehicles arranged by themselves.
“No arrangement of bus or any other vehicle or even food has been made by the state government. It is a harrowing experience. BJP workers are providing relief based on the capacity,” he added.
Citing a tweet of Railway Minister Piyush Goyal, Singh said: “There is no planning to bring back the migrant workers to the state. When Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and other states can run more than 300 trains for migrant workers, Chhattisgarh has not reached even double figure.”
According to him, of the official figure of 1.60 lakh stranded, only around 1,200 have arrived in Chhattisgarh.
On letters sent to the Prime Minister and Union Ministers by the Chief Minister on relief package and lockdown relaxations, Raman Singh said: “Without a strategic work plan on what the state government will do with the money, it will receive no response.”
On liquor prohibition, the BJP leader said the opposition will continue to play its role and it is not good to rebuke when suggestions are offered to the government.
