CLP approaches PM, Railway Minister
Cong to help send back migrant workers home
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 08 2020: The Congress Legislature Party (CLP) has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Railway Minister to give permission for reserving a train so that migrant workers stranded in Manipur can be sent back to their home States.

The CLP held a meeting today and discussed AICC president Sonia Gandhi's instruction that the party's State offices should take the responsibility of sending home migrant workers from their respective States.

The meeting held at the Babupara quarters of ex-Chief Minister Okram Ibobi resolved to approach the Prime Minister and the Union Railway Minister to allow them reserve a train so that migrant labourers and workers stranded in Manipur following the country-wide lockdown can go back to their home States.

Cong to help send back migrant workers home

Speaking to media persons after meeting, CLP senior leader K Govindas conveyed that CLP leader O Ibobi has written to the Prime Minister and the Union Railway Minister seeking permission to reserve a train which would take back migrant workers currently stranded in Manipur to their home State, Bihar.

Even though there are migrant workers from other States too, maximum number of them come from Bihar.

As such, the CLP opted to send back the Bihari migrant workers first, Govindas said.

Bus fare for Imphal to Jiribam and train fare for Jiribam to Patna for all migrant works would be borne out of contributions made by CLP, PCC members and Congress workers.

All arrangements would be made to send back the migrant workers as soon as permission is given for booking a special train, Govindas said.

The State CLP has already communicated with the Bihar Chief Minister and the Bihar CLP to welcome back the migrant workers returning from Manipur as and when they reach Patna, he said.

Congress spokesman K Meghachandra said that Congress party felt obliged to make necessary arrangements needed for sending back the migrant workers to their respective States as the State Government has been doing nothing in this regard.

As there are more than 1500 migrant workers from Bihar, Congress party has been working to send them back first.

Migrant workers from other States would be sent back in the second phase, he said.

He further exuded confidence that the State Government would support the Congress party's initiative and coordinate with the Prime Minister as well as the Union Railway Minister.

Meghachandra also appealed to all relevant authorities to cooperate with the Congress party as and when the initiative to send back migrant workers is translated into action.

Pointing out that Manipuri people stranded in red zones have been suffering extreme misery, he expressed strong desire for the State Government to take up necessary measures for bringing them back.

Manipur has a huge number of migrant workers spread all over.