Video: Migrant workers protest against the extension of Lockdown; Police opened Lathicharge!

Mumbai, the city with the highest number of coronavirus cases and a large population of migrant workers, witnessed a protest against the extension of the lockdown at the Bandra station. Thousands revolted since they expected the lockdown to end on Tuesday, and had had plans of returning to their home towns. However, Prime Minister Modi extended the lockdown till May 03, earlier today.

Visuals from the Bandra station show thousands of people jolting, revolting, and violating the conditions of social distancing. Further spread of the infection is now feared. The police force was compelled to open Lathicharge. “They demanded to run a train to UP and Bihar so that they can go back to their native places,” said BJP MLA Ashish Shelar, who was present at the spot.

The crowd began to assemble around 3 pm on Tuesday. Since these migrant workers live in cramped houses with ten or more people, they are forced to fight this pandemic under extreme conditions. Adding to this, many of these migrant workers earn daily wages and hence, this population in Maharashtra is agonizing over the lockdown.

“Earlier, Home Minister Amit Shah had assured that the arrangement will be made to send them back to their home after the lockdown ends, but now the lockdown has been extended so the people are anxious," Aslam Sheikh, Maharashtra Cabinet Minister told India Today. He also reassured that the availability of food and ration to this population is not a problem.

“A mutual road map set by Union Govt will largely help migrant labour to reach home from one state to another safely and efficiently. Time and again this issue has been raised with the centre,” read a tweet from Aaditya Thackeray, the son of Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.

"These people were hoping to get back home. We have been able to persuade them that they will have to wait as no state borders are open yet. The crowd has been dispersed,” said Home Minister Anil Deshmukh. The main reason for not sending the migrant workers to their native places is the fear of carrying the infections to the other states in India.

The protest was witnessed on the same day that India saw a spike in the total number of cases which is now above 10,000.