No migrant on the road, all sheltered, MHA tells top court
Supreme Court orders Central government to make sure basic facilities are provided to thousands, who were fleeing cities for their native villages
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs ( MHA) on Tuesday told a media briefing that over 600,000 migrant workers have been housed in 61000 relief camps, after the government assured the Supreme Court that “no migrant is on the road.” The Supreme Court ordered the Central government to make sure that basic facilities like food, water and medicines are provided to thousands including migrant workers, who were fleeing cities for their native villages.
The court order came after the Centre informed the court that the large scale exodus of migrant workers has been brought under control and all of them have been taken to shelter homes.
“I have instructions to state that no one is now on the road. Anyone who was outside has been taken to the available shelters,” Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the court.
“We are considering providing counseling to address the panic. Over 22.8 lakh people are being provided with food. These are needy persons, migrants, and daily wagers. They have been kept in shelters,” Mehta said.
Observing that “panic will destroy more lives than the virus,” the apex court suggested that the Centre provide counselling to the migrants, and rope in community leaders of all faiths to calm them down.
The court heard two petitions, one by advocates Rashmi Bansal and Anuj Gupta and another by advocate Alakh Alok Srivastava, which brought the plight of the migrant labourers to the notice of the court.
The court asked the Centre to form a committee of experts to address queries of citizens about the coronavirus (COVID-19) threat. It also underscored the need to prevent the spread of false and incorrect information through social media platforms and gave a green signal to the authorities to take strict action against those spreading fake news.
Meanwhile a controversy raged over a religious conference attended by over thousand people in Delhi from March 8 to 10, after which fears have arisen that the attendees could have contacted COVID-19.
Dismissing reports that quarantine protocols were not practised at the Nizamuddin Markaz, the mosque administration on Tuesday clarified that it had tried to comply with them but a large group of visitors were stuck at the markaz (centre) as the government suspended all passenger train operations across the country.
It also said that the organisation had requested the Sub-divisional Magistrate to issue vehicle passes so that the stranded guests can go back home, but the permission is yet to be granted.
The Delhi government accused the organisation of “gross negligence” and said it plans to lodge a case against the maulana of the mosque.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said 441 people taken out of the mosque in Delhi had shown COVID-19 symptoms and seven people have died from it.
“It was a highly irresponsible act,” he said. “The world over people are dying and at this time, when all religious places are deserted, they committed such a serious act.” Twentyfour people in Delhi who attended the event have tested positive for coronavirus. “So far, 24 people staying there have been found to be coronavirus positive,” Delhi Health Minister
Satyendra Jain said. “The organisers committed a grave crime by holding the meet, we have asked the Lieutenant Governor for toughest action,” said the minister.
Health Ministry Joint Secretary Lav Aggarwal told the media: “With respect to the Nizamuddin area, we all need to understand and appreciate that this is not the time to do fault-finding. What is important for us is to take action as per our containment process in whatever areas we find a case.” Close to 2,000 people had been staying at Markaz Nizamuddin, the Delhi headquarters of the Tablighi Jamaat group, for the gathering. Over 400 were moved to hospitals on Monday with symptoms of the highly contagious virus. Over 1,000 people have been moved out in buses and are quarantined in different parts of the city.
A police case has been filed against the mosque administration.
Several states are trying to track down members who attended the meet and could be vectors for a larger spread.