Labour activist booked for inciting Bandra migrant workers’ gathering

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the extension of the nationwide lockdown till May 3. Reacting to the announcement, hundreds of migrant workers had gathered outside Bandra railway station in Mumbai. Violating social distancing norms they demanded transport arrangements to go back to their native places. Most of the migrants were reportedly from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.

According to reports, the migrant workers gathered there following rumours that arrangements were being made to take them back home. They later dispersed after police and local leaders intervened and asked them to vacate.

A man who allegedly incited migrant labourers to protest here amid lockdown was arrested from Navi Mumbai by the police. The arrested man, Vinay Dubey, put out several social media posts pushing a campaign he called “Chalo Ghar Ki Ore (let’s head home)”.

In a video in circulation since yesterday, Vinay, a self-proclaimed labour leader is heard asking the government to organize a journey home for the migrants. He claims he has arranged 40 buses and needs permission to operate them to take migrant labourers back home from Mumbai.

Vinay was apprehended from Airoli in Navi Mumbai. He will be in custody of the Azad Maidan police, where the process of registering an offence against him is on. He will be produced before a local court later today.

Also Read: COVID-19 Lockdown: Migrant workers gather at Bandra railway station in Mumbai