No death in 'Shramik' trains caused by starvation, issue being politicised: BJP

BJP on Wednesday rejected allegation that starvation was behind death of passengers on 'Shramik Special' trains and said manner in which issue was being "politicised" was unprecedented.

"ne of deaths in Shramik trains has been caused by hunger or starvation as per postmortem reports. Natural deaths have occurred on trains earlier too but manner in which unfortunate deaths of shramiks (labourers) have been politicised is unprecedented without (critics) waiting to kw about exact cause of deaths," BJP said in a statement.

Its spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain cited details of postmortem reports and comments of some of deceased's family members to claim that y suffered from pre-existing conditions.

Dashrath Prajapati (30) suffered from chronic kidney disease, health of Ram Ratan Ground (63) h been deteriorating, Ibrar Ahmed's postmortem report found brain stroke as cause of death and t dehydration while Arbina Khatoon suffered from pre-existing mental ailment, Hussain said, referring to some of those who died during ir journey.

"We are t here to do petty politics. Government believes in tackling problems he on, and dressing it," he said. BJP's statement came after Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi hit out at central government, saying this has been "mitted" that at least 81 deaths have happened and re are allegations that more fatalities occurred but were t being declared by railways.

opposition party demanded resignation of Railway Minister Piyush Goyal, accusing government of distorting facts on payments for se train services.

Congress said central government has t spent a single penny on running special trains for migrant workers returning home as Solicitor General Tushar Mehta has me it clear before Supreme Court that state governments receiving or sending migrants were to pay for m.

Hussain reiterated that Railways bore 85 per cent of total cost of getting migrants back to ir home states, while remaining 15 per cent was charged from states.

solicitor general also said same in Supreme Court when asked who will pay fare which is covered by state, Hussain said. 'Shramik Special' trains are being supplied with multiple meals and equate drinking water, with over 1.5 crore meals and two crore packd water bottles having been provided by railways free of cost, he said.

As many as 4197 of se special trains have carried 58 lakh passengers to ir home states between May 1 and June 3, BJP leer said.