Bihar min slams AAP over rail fare row, says 'don't take credit & ask for reimbursement'

Bihar Minister Sanjay Kumar Jha on Saturday lashed out at Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain for taking credit for paying migrants' travel fares and then asking for reimbursement from the Bihar government. Criticising the Delhi government, Jha said, "On one hand, you are taking credit by saying you are sending them back on your money and on the other hand, you are asking Bihar government to return the money."

Earlier in the day, the Aam Admi Party (AAP) had lambasted Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government, accusing it of not fulfilling its obligation to pay the part of travel fare incurred on migrants' return to the state. AAP MP Sanjay Singh lashed out at the Bihar government and alleged that despite its duty to bear 15 per cent of the travel expenses of migrants, the Delhi government is paying for the migrants travel to Bihar for the train that departed from the capital city on Friday.

Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain said, "It is not fair to take money from them. They have been staying in shelter homes for the last two months. From where will they get money to pay for tickets? So the Delhi government paid for it. One shouldn't do politics over it."

Read: Kerala: Migrant workers stage protests in Kozhikode, demand to be sent back home

Delhi govt asks for reimbursement 

Meanwhile, hours after the AAP lashed out at the Bihar government, a letter issued by Department of Social Welfare, Delhi revealed that they have asked the Bihar government for the reimbursement of every expense incurred by the authorities. In an official letter addressed to the Principal Secretary at Disaster Management Department of Bihar, the letter has clarified that the Delhi government will purchase the tickets in advance, bear all additional expenses, and the same would be reimbursed by the Bihar government.

Read: 'Don't get confrontational': Bengal Guv Jagdeep Dhankar to Mamata amid tussle with Centre

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

Read: AAP claim busted, Bihar govt to reimburse Delhi for migrants' Shramik train cost