After migrants throng Bandra station: Maharashtra ministers release order on running trains, allege conspiracy

New Delhi: A day after the near stampede and breakdown of law and order at Bandra railway station, two senior ministers in the Maharashtra government released a copy of an official communication of a senior railway officer that said trains would resume services to transport stranded passengers and migrant workers. The ministers demanded a probe determine who circulated rumours in social media about resumption of railway service and imposition of President’s rule in Maharashtra. Thousands of migrant workers had arrived at the Bandra station on Tuesday, following social media buzz on resumption of train service amid the lockdown.

Senior Maharashtra minister Ashok Chavan released the official railway communication, dated April 13, at an AICC briefing via video conferencing. Chavan said “the office of Chief Commercial Manager (Passenger Marketing) of the South Central Railway, Secunderabad, issued the following order dated 13 April, 2020, by A Malleswara Rao, the deputy Chief Commercial Manager.” Chavan then read out the railway communication which said “during video conference held on 13-03-2020 it was decided to run Jansadharan Specials for clearing stranded passengers/migrant labour of unreserved segment.”

Chavan, along with ministerial colleague Balasahab Thorat, said “this wrong railway communication led to a law and order situation in Bandra, where Section 144 had to be imposed.


The question is how did such a railway order come out despite the PM already indicating extension of the lockdown? The Minister of Railway may explain. There is another question: Who were behind the social media hype about trains being run for migrant workers and who were behind trending social media rumours about President’s rule in Maharashtra? This is not a time for us to indulge in politics, but we must say the whole act smacks of a political conspiracy.” Chavan hoped the investigation ordered by the state government will detect the conspiracy and stressed the need for the Centre to work in full coordination with states to combat the Covid-19 pandemic.