Amit Shah Questions Mamata Banerjee Over Migrants

New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah is reported to have questioned West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over the state government's attitude towards migrants wishing to return to their home states. Amit Shah is said to have written to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressing dissatisfaction over the lack of cooperation from the state government with regard to the return of migrants to their home states.

Amit Shah reportedly pointed out that migrants stuck in West Bengal wished to return to their home states but were unable to do so because the West Bengal government was not allowing them to return. The Home Minister sought to know as to why requisite permits for the movement of trains was not being granted by the state government.

The West Bengal government is reported to have said that it has already granted requisite permission with regard to entry and exit. The West Bengal government report claims that it has been proactive in bringing migrant workers back to their home state. It cites the example of two trains carrying migrant workers, pilgrims and tourists which have come back to West Bengal from Ajmer and Ernakulam.

The issue of the movement of migrant workers has now emerged as yet another flashpoint between West Bengal and the Centre. Earlier, the Central government raised concerns over the sharing of accurate data related to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in the state. It may be recalled that the Centre sent two Inter-Ministerial Central Teams (IMCT) to West Bengal to monitor the COVID-19 situation in the state.

The head of the Central teams wrote to the West Bengal Chief Secretary citing lack of adequate cooperation from the state government authorities.

Trinamool Congress leaders, however, remarked that the BJP was politicising the COVID-19 situation in the state.