Actor Prakash Raj, who has been a critic of Modi and many of the Centre's policies, is back with a question for on the migrant exodus crisis that unfolded amid the lockdown.
In a tweet on Friday, Prakash Raj addressed Mr Atmanirbhar', an apparent reference to Modi who introduced the concept of Atmanirbhar Bharat during an address to the nation amid the pandemic. “Dear Mr. #Atmanirbhar You have a network which can ferry lakhs of people with food n expenses on buses n trucks for every single election meeting of yours across the country. If half of it was pressed to service my walking countrymen would have reached their homes #JustAsking,” Prakash Raj tweeted.
Dear Mr. #Atmanirbhar ..
— Prakash Raj (@prakashraaj) June 12, 2020
You have a network which can ferry lakhs of people with food n expenses on buses n trucks for every single election meeting of yours across the country. If half of it was pressed to service my walking countrymen would have reached their homes #JustAsking pic.twitter.com/4fcHZn7i3n
The migrant exodus has been the biggest humanitarian crisis of the COVID-19 lockdown in the country. According to reports, the phase 3 of the lockdown, which was extended from May 4 to May 17, resulted in the death of 118 migrant workers, the highest among all other lockdown periods, data from SaveLife Foundation has revealed. The phase 3 contributed to almost 60 per cent of all migrant worker deaths during the lockdown, while phases one, two and four witnessed 25, 17 and 38 deaths respectively.
Passing verdict on a suo motu case related to the migrant labourer woes, a Supreme Court bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan, S.K. Kaul and M.R. Shah, on June 9, directed the state governments to ensure that all stranded migrant workers are transported back to home states within 15 days. All cases of lockdown violations under the NDMA Act against the migrant labourers should be withdrawn, the court ordered, adding that Shramik trains should be scheduled and counselling sessions prepared.
