Sonia politicising a human tragedy
Congress is matchless.So is Sonia.For,you will not find any where else, any major party or a top leader politicising a human tragedy.The country is a facing a crisis.The Coronavirus which has gripped it and other parts of the World has been declared pandemic by the World Health Organisation.It is a national disaster.But instead of joining hands with the government, the party is trying the exploit the situation for its own political gains.It is condemnable. It is the oldest political party and it should have behaved differently.In politics there are differences.All parties do not hold the same view on some of the issues.The government is opposed by non-ruling parties.But on national issues and during national disasters, they should all come together and fight them to success.
What the party or Sonia Gandhi has done is unacceptable.It deserves total condemnation by one and all,irrespective of their affiliations.The party has been creating roadblocks since long.It has not allowed the parliament to function properly.Several important bills aimed at changing the situation in the country for the better were kept pending for months.One had hoped that at least it will change now and back the government in its effort to meet the crisis created by the virus.But it has not and it should be noted.
The Modi government,as most of you are aware,was aware of the hardships faced by migrant labourers.It was looking for a solution.Finally,it came out with a proposal to arrange special trains to ferry them to their respective states.A 85-15 per cent cost sharing formula was worked out.The states which were eager to bring them back agreed to pay 15 per cent of the travelling expenses.A few trains could leave for their destinations.But before more trains were green-flagged,the party came out with a fake narrative to defame the government.
The stranded labourers who were to be sent back were not asked to pay.But the party and its president claimed that they had purchased tickets and had paid for the journey to their respective states.The booking counters were not opened.Online bookings were suspended.Where did they purchase the tickets from then?Some tickets were also shown by the party.It is matter which needs to be investigated.Were these tickets forged?Or,were they purchased before the lockdown?The Railway had announced before the suspension of train services that it will refund money to those passengers who had purchased tickets before the suspension.Are these the same tickets?An inquiry will clear all doubts.
Meanwhile,as the party has not come out with a proof to establish and the government has denied the payment charge it can be safely assumed that there is more to it than what meets the eye.Secondly,it was not the time to raise such issues.The need of the hour was to unitedly fight the virus to win and attract other nations.That would have done every one proud. But look at what Sonia has done.
On the fourth of this month,she came out with a statement saying that her party was ready to pay for train journey of migrant labourers.Why did she say it when the government was sending the stranded labourers back home for free?Clearly,she wanted to send the message that she is pro-workers and cares a lot for them,unlike the government of the day.The lockdown was imposed on March 25.These daily wagers could not move out after that.She did not make this offer then and did it when the government itself moved in that direction.It was nothing but to disallow the credit to the government.
Secondly,she is perhaps not aware that Covid-19 is a contagious disease.Sending lakhs of lobourers home without masks and sanitisation would have deepened the crisis.If she was serious she should have first arranged a mask for every one of them.She did not.It appears in this light that she has no issue or agenda.The party is frustrated and desperately trying to gain the lost ground.But it cannot achieve success by these moves.The party rules in some of the states and the workers have suffered most in those states.Had she been pro-labourers she should have pulled the governments there.
Take Punjab, for instance.The Congress government there did not provide adequate foodgrains to them.As a result as much as 70 per cent of them decided to move out of the state.Some used bicycle,some other trolleys and yet another group walked down the road to reach their respective states.Several television channels highlighted their problems.But she did not wake up then.State chief minister Amarinder Singh had himself disclosed once that as many as 10 lakh labourers wanted to go back.Had she been in love with them she would have asked him to make arrangements for their foodinng and lodging and prevent them from going out as that could impact industrial and agricultural productions.She did nothing of the kind.The CM on the other hand was more worried over the closure of liquor shops.
Daily wagers in Maharashtra and Kerala were no better.These states have Congress-supported governments.Her writ runs there.Labourers would have lavished praise if these states had treated them well.They did not which speaks volume against her and her party.Many of them had moved out and were looking for some one to help.None came forward.They were without food and shelter for many days.Most of Labourers from Bihar,UP and West Bengal were engaged in construction works.Many of them were eager to be back home.But the governments in three states,Kerala,Maharashtra and Rajasthan were not ready for 15 per cent cost-sharing.Instead,according to reports,labourers were asked to pay for their fares.
The condition in Congress-ruled Rajasthan was worse.Many labourers in Jaipur,Jodhpur,Ajmer and Kota were seen roaming.They were looking for food and shelter after the lockdown.She did not ask questions to the government in that state.But she has many for the Modi government.Her hypocrisy is fully exposed.
The Modi government has taken one more major decision,in addition to one for sending stranded labourers back home. It has drawn a massive evacuation plan to bring back stranded Indians abroad.More than 15000 countrymen have to be brought back.They had gone on their own.Still,the government has chalked out a plan because it has a genuine concern.
