Mumbai, April 16 Two days after a massive unrest by migrants, the ruling Shiv Sena vowed to 'nail the conspiracy', but simultaneously said with this experience, Maharashtra must ensure that troublemakers who desert the state in this critical hour should not return.
Targeting the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Sena asked that there were similar crowds of migrants who gathered in Surat (Gujarat) and other cities as they were keen to return to their home states.
In a sharp edit in the party newspaper, 'Saamana', the Sena pointed out that there was no rumour about resumption of trains services and there was even a circular to this effect from the railways.
"It was in the news. How did the railways accept reservations after April 15? Even before it became clear that the Prime Minister will extend the lockdown, it was a crime to make 40 lakh ticket bookings and create confusion among the people," slammed the Sena.
Blaming the railway ministry for the fracas at Bandra and the state Opposition for 'stooping to a new low', the Sena pointedly demanded: "Will Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis demand resignation of Railway Minister Piyush Goyal?"
The edit added that long-distance trains depart not only from Lokmanya Tilak Terminus, but also from Mumbai Central Terminus, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, but the crowds collected only in Bandra, while the TV news channels totally blanked out the situation that built up in Surat.
"This is a huge conspiracy and we will unmask it. We shall nail those who attempted to use the Corona crisis as an excuse to create disturbances for the Maharashtra Government," the Sena vowed.
Admitting to the plight of the migrant workers and the Bandra episode as the angst of the poor people of 'Bharat', it said the clapping and clanging of thaalis or lighting lamps by the rich in 'India' would not lessen the sufferings of those who eke out a hand-to-mouth existence.
"Everybody is in deep problems, but the situation of the poor in such times becomes worse especially when cities like Mumbai shut down. For them, the government must adopt a different yardstick. Under such trying times, running the state government requires huge courage," the Sena said.
Tweaking the ears of the restive migrants, the Sena said that the state looked after and fed them, but suddenly today they want to desert Maharashtra which is tantamount to 'beimani' (treachery).
"Those who remain with us in times of crises are the real 'sons of the soil'. With this experience, the government must ensure that those who want to create trouble by leaving the state should not return. The government must find out the credentials of those who crowded in Bandra by violating the lockdown rules and attempting to harm the state," the Sena urged.
Indirectly hitting out at its ruling ally, the Nationalist Congress Party Home Minister Anil Deshmukh, the Sena wondered what the police were doing when so many thousands gathered, while they (police) keep 'caning' anyone else who moves out during lockdown.
( With inputs from IANS )