West Bengal Governor claims credit for special train for migrants

Tribune News Service

Kolkata, May 3

In a tweet which is likely to infuriate West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar today announced that a special train from Ajmer carrying migrants from West Bengal was likely to reach Durgapur via Asansol on Tuesday. Dhankhar claimed that he was instrumental in making arrangement for the train.

• Also read: Migrants stranded in Punjab to pay for rail travel

“Had discussions with Railway Minister Piyush Goyal yesterday for facilitating return of migrants to our state. One special train likely to reach and terminate at Durgapur via Asansol on May 5 scheduled to be departed from Rajasthan (Ajmer) carrying migrant from WB,” the Governor tweeted.

Mamata may see the tweet as an attempt to step into her domain. On Saturday, she sent a strongly worded letter to Dhankhar warning him against trying to “usurp power”. She also accused Dhankhar of attempting to destroy the “singularity of the real executive organ of the state.”

The Railways has started operating special trains for transporting stranded people. The West Bengal government recently evacuated students from the state stranded in Kota, Rajasthan. More than 90 buses were deployed for this purpose.

The state government has also announced engaging senior IAS officers to coordinate with other states to bring back stranded migrant labourers. It, however, wants proper health screening of labourers before they begin their journey. “The state government is setting up proper quarantine facilities to house migrants on their return,” said an official. It is still not clear whether those travelling by special train will be required to buy ticket.