By Vivek Tripathi

Lucknow, May 16 (IANS): Lashing out at the Uddhav Thackeray government of Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh Labour Minister Swami Prasad Maurya said that Maharashtra is responsible for this migrant crisis. He said the Uddhav Thackeray government is deliberately sending migrant workers to UP in trucks. This may lead to increased infection in the state, he said.

In an exclusive interview with IANS, UP labour minister said that the Congress-ruled states have failed to tackle the migrant crisis as the workers have to face a lot of hardship there. Since the Maharashtra government could not provide food and shelter to migrants, it is now sending them back to UP, Maurya alleged.

"The Maharashtra government is sending migrants in trucks. That is why there is chaos all around."

"The same mistake was committed by Delhi earlier. Each state should help the migrants at this hour of crisis keeping in mind the humanitarian values of the migrants. The migrants should not be forced to flee. Their needs should have been taken care of there. Sending them in overloaded trucks will not help anyone," Maurya said.

Appealing to workers, Maurya said, "Keep patience. We will bring you back. If there is a problem of not having enough food, then call nodal officers. Their phone numbers have been issued. We are continously on our toes to bring back migrant labourers. Buses and trains are being arranged. Lakhs of them have already been brought back. The rest will also be brought back. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath have stepped up efforts in this direction. They should not risk their lives by hitchhiking in trucks."

The labour minister said, "The government is bringing all migrants in buses and and trains. They should not hide for fear of being quarantined. This will definitely spread the virus."

On the question of salary cuts in private companies and retrenchment of workers, Maurya said, "The government is keeping an eye on this. I have written to all private offices and companies not to retrench people in such trying times. If they still do, we will conduct surveys to find out how many of them have retrenched workers. Will take action once the lockdown is lifted."

On the labour reforms initiated by the UP government, Maurya said, "The labour reforms have been brought in to provide work to migrant workers who are coming in large number from other states. The chief minister has resolved to provide jobs to skilled and unskilled workers both. Factories, manufacturing units closed due to the lockdown are being restarted. We will not compromise with the interests of the workers at any cost. Those who are raising questions on labour reforms don't know that this is all to bring in investment which will ultimately help the workers."

Taking a dig at the Congress and the Samajwadi Party, Maurya said, "They must read the ordinance on labour reforms carefully before criticising the government. They have no other issues. The previous SP government only distributed cycles to appease the workers."

He said, "The rights of the workers will not be violated at any cost due to the labour reforms. The working hours will also not be extended as reported in the media. Nobody should fear anything. Reforms have been brought in to attract investment."