HM Amit Shah writes to Bengal CM Mamata over 'inaction' on proper movement of migrants

Amid a tussle between the Centre and the West Bengal government, sources said that Home Minister Amit Shah has written to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on the issue of migrants. As per sources, the Home Minister has said that the Central government is operating Shramik special trains to facilitate the return of migrant labourers to their native places, but her State government is not co-operating. Home Minister Shah has also demanded an answer on the Mamata government's inaction over the migrants' distress in Bengal. 

This comes days amid a continuous tussle between the Centre and the Mamata government on handling of the deadly Coronavirus pandemic. While the State government claimed that they are transparent on their COVID data and accused Centre of 'playing politics', the Centre claimed that Mamata Banerjee administration is hiding the grave situation of the pandemic in the State. 

READ | Disinfectant sprayed on Shramik Train passengers upon arrival at WB's Dankuni

"But we are not getting expected support from the West Bengal. The state government of West Bengal is not allowing the trains reaching to West Bengal. This is injustice with West Bengal migrant labourers. This will create further hardship for them," Shah wrote. 

As per details accessed by Republic TV, the chart for trains that terminated at various states till 9 AM on Saturday shows that even as 265 trains operated across India, only 2 trains terminated in West Bengal.

READ | Lockdown relaxations evoke tepid response in Bengal; liquor shops see huge crowd

Centre claims Mamata govt blocked State borders

On Thursday, MHA Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla wrote to the Mamata-led government directing it to not block the movement of trucks across Bangladesh border after reports came on May 2 that trucks carrying essential goods were not allowed to move to Benapole, located on the other side of the border at Petrapol. Responding to it, the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) denied charges levelled by Union home secretary and accused him of "trying to please his political bosses in Delhi".

READ | Mamata's Trinamool slams Home Secretary after Centre alleges blocking of goods movement

The MHA also wrote to the Mamata government regarding the COVID situation in the State. On it, CM Mamata's party said that Centre has given 'subliminal political tilt, which is devoid of facts and figures'. "As far as COVID-19 management is concerned, West Bengal is doing its best. It ranks 10th in terms of infected people. But the Centre is not sending letters to states such as Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, where the number of such people is much higher," a senior TMC leader said.  

READ | MHA directs Bengal govt to unblock Bangladesh border, 'consider international implication'