Karnataka government cancels Shramik Special trains for migrants after meeting builders 

New Delhi: Soon after a meeting between the Karnataka chief minister, BS Yediyurappa, and top property developers of the state, on Tuesday, the state government has decided to cancel all Shramik Special trains, which the railways started running to ferry migrants, mostly workers, to their home destinations from Wednesday. In a letter to the Indian Railways, the BS Yediyurappa-led BJP government said it is cancelling all trains scheduled from Wednesday.

Karnataka government’s letter to railways to cancel the trains.

The decision comes when stranded migrant workers are struggling to sustain themselves without food and money in the coronavirus lockdown and are desperate to go back to their home.

Talking to media, a senior government official said although no reason was given to cancel the trains, after the chief minister’s meeting with the representatives of Confederation of Real Estate Developers Associations of India, the government concluded that the exodus of the migrant workers will have a serious impact on the state’s efforts to revive the economy, which has come to a grinding halt due to the coronavirus pandemic.

On Wednesday, the BJP MP from Bangalore South, Tejaswi Surya, also tweeted that Karnataka government’s decision was a “bold and necessary” step which will “help migrant workers to have a better life” as well as help revive the state’s economy.

Stoppage of inter-state trains by Sri @BSYBJP is a bold and necessary move.

It will help migrant labourers who came here with hopes of a better life to restart their dreams. Also, it will kickstart economic activities full throttle.

Karnataka will emerge out of this stronger!

— Tejasvi Surya (@Tejasvi_Surya) May 6, 2020

This triggered an outrage with many accusing the state government of practicing “slavery” and “bonded labour”.

The Karnataka Congress chief, DK Shivakumar, said migrant workers can’t be kept as “captives” and he had requested the CM to let the trains run so that they can travel back to their homes.

On behalf of the KPCC, urged the state govt to immediately arrange trains to bring back all stranded Kannadigas from other states.

Met the Chief Secretary & told him that we are ready to bear the monetary costs to be paid to Railways in our effort to help the people of Karnataka pic.twitter.com/LTlhTLx6Ks

— DK Shivakumar (@DKShivakumar) May 4, 2020

The All-India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU) moved the Karnataka high court against the state’s decision to cancel the trains, on Wednesday.

AICCTU Moves Karnataka HC Seeking Relief For Migrant Workers After State Cancels Train To Transport Them Back [Read Petition] https://t.co/CngeXvmhI3

— Live Law (@LiveLawIndia) May 6, 2020

On social media too, people vented their anger at the Karnataka government.

The era of bonded labour is over.Who the f... is the Karnataka Chief Minister to prevent free Indians from going home only so that billionaire builders have access to captive labour?

Outrage As Karnataka Stops Trains to Ensure Migrant Workers Can't Leave https://t.co/ElFfjj30D6

— vir sanghvi (@virsanghvi) May 6, 2020

What's the right word for this? Indentured labour? Slavery? https://t.co/S8lRglaMo5

— Mitali Saran (@mitalisaran) May 6, 2020

It's shocking that a (apparently) democratically elected government could have the gall to do this. A sign of the times that they think it will be given a pass. Disgusting. Karnataka govt stops trains for migrant labourers: ‘Don't we have rights?’ https://t.co/IAWD3ctApb

— Abhinandan Sekhri (@AbhinandanSekhr) May 6, 2020

"we'd rather die at home than live like this"

Karnataka government cancels trains for migrants after talking to builders, says work resumes, why would they want to go back? Ask these labourers living in unhygienic, filthy conditions, without having sent a penny home in 40 days. pic.twitter.com/LtReoEbHZ7

— Revathi Rajeevan (@RevathiRajeevan) May 6, 2020

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