Centre blames fake news for migrant exodus during lockdown

The Centre has blamed fake news for mass exodus of migrants after the announcement of a coronavirus-induced lockdown in March. In a reply to a question by TMC MP Mala Roy during the ongoing parliament session, the Home Ministry said the migration of large number of migrant workers was triggered due to panic created by fake news regarding duration of lockdown that led to concerns about adequate supply of basic necessities like food, drinking water and shelter.

This comes a day after the govt said in Parliament that it has no record of migrants labourers who died due to hardships faced by them during the lockdown

Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai replied in the Lok Sabha that the govt had taken all necessary measures to ensure that during the period of the inevitable lockdown, no citizen should be deprived of basic amenities.He also said Centre had allowed the state governments to use the State Disaster Response Fund on 28th March itself for providing temporary accommodation, food, clothing, medical care to homeless people.