Rahul, Priyanka urge Congress leaders, workers, people to provide food, shelter to migrants heading home

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday appealed to the general public and his party workers and ministers to provide food and shelter to the home bound migrants moving on foot passing through their towns, cities and villages.

Taking to Twitter, Rahul Gandhi said: "Today, hundreds of our brothers and sisters, along with their hungry and thirsty families have to move towards their villages. On this difficult path of theirs, those of you who are capable enough, provide them with food, shelter and water.

"The appeal to help the needy is particularly from Congress workers and leaders," he said.

Congress general secretary made the same appeal to the people. She wrote in her tweet, “Do not treat these helpless citizens like this. We should be ashamed that we have left them in this condition. daily wage labourers are the back bone of our nation, Kindly help them.”

Since Wednesday, scores of migrant workers have been spotted at Delhi-Ghaziabad border who were on their way home on foot crossing miles after miles. Many of them are apprehensive of the situation after the sudden announcement of the 21-day lockdown while others are sent on leave by their contractors.

The Centre has imposed a nationwide shutdown for 21 days in the wake of the highly contagious coronavirus outbreak that has already infected more than 800 in India. Government has urged people to stay indoors and aggressively practice social distancing. However, the scene of desperate migrant workers fleeing the national capital and other metro cities have had no parallel.