COVID-19 Lockdown 2.0: Migrant workers misled by social media rumour protest outside Bandra railway station
By Lokmat English Desk | Published: April 15, 2020 06:43 PM2020-04-15T18:43:07+5:302020-04-15T18:43:07+5:30
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a 19-day extension to the three-week lockdown imposed across the nation in wake of novel coronavirus outbreak. The lockdown, originally imposed on March 25, will now end on May 3.
Large crowds were witnessed in Mumbai's Bandra railway station as daily wage workers tried to leave for their homes.
The police had to resort to lathi charge to disperse the protesting migrant workers.
On the whole situation Adity Thackeray tweeted,"The current situation at Bandra Station, now dispersed or even the rioting in Surat is a result of the Union Govt not being able to take a call on arranging a way back home for migrant labour. They don’t want food or shelter, they want to go back home".
According to the Bandra police, people started gathering outside Jama Masjid near Bandra station around 4 p.m. The numbers soon swelled to around 1,500.
Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray appealed to migrant workers to maintain calm.
Mr. Thackeray said the State is investigating the incident and those playing politics during a pandemic will be punished.
The people mostly comprised workers from other States and demanded that they be sent home as the lockdown, which was supposed to end on Tuesday, had been extended.
The State government is in talks with the Centre to help migrant workers return home, said CM Thackeray.
According to sources, the migrants in Mumbai were misled by a social media rumour which claimed that trains were available to cross state borders.
