The first coronavirus (COVID-19) wave in the pandemic affected the state of Maharashtra severely, whereby many migrants from different parts of the nation returned to their respective states. To ensure they reach safely, Maharahstra Congress persuaded the migrant workers in Mumbai to return to Uttar Pradesh, Bihar by giving them free train tickets. This move made by the party was disliked by Prime Minister Narendra Modi who then slammed the efforts by stating that the same to be reason for a widespread of COVID-19 in those states.
Following this statement, Congress has expressed their displeasure and criticised the leaders from the ruling party for the same. Sharing her thought, NCP MP Supriya Sule, in a recently released statement, said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement about Maharashtra has caused pain to the citizens. It is unfortunate that Narendra Modi has insulted Maharashtra. Many people lost their lives due to the COVID-19 pandemic which spread across the country including Mumbai, and also disrupted civilian life.”
The economy across the country came to a standstill during the few months of the pandemic and many migrant workers were forced by the situation to return to their homes.
PM Modi said that the COVID-19 did spread across the country, however, one of the reasons for the spread was because of Maharashtra Congress who offered free ticket to the migrants to return home to Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. The statement was made by him while responding to a discussion on the President's address which lasted more than an hour. Reports state that he hurled criticism and accused the Congress of their actions. “In the first wave of corona, while the country was following the lockdown, Congress leaders from Maharashtra were standing at Mumbai railway stations and giving train tickets to workers leaving Mumbai. They persuaded people to migrate,” said Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
After this statement made by PM Modi, the opposition has become very aggressive in the state. NCP MP Supriya Sule, on Tuesday, February 8, 2021, held a press conference and targeted the central government. She said that this statement about Maharashtra caused pain and NCP president Sharad Pawar also felt bad about the same. She added that it is unfortunate for Narendra Modi to insult Maharashtra.
Sule mentioned that the trains for the migrant workers were released not by the state governments, but by the central government. Post making this statement, she also raised the question of whether the central government had forgotten humanity during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This statement has hurt me personally. A total of 18 MPs have been elected by BJP from Maharashtra and there is a big share of voters from the state. By making this statement of calling the state as ‘cowardly super spreader’, he has insulted the voters of Maharashtra and this is very shocking and unfortunate,” she added.
Share
Tweet
