Stay wherever you are, will pay your rent: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal urges migrant workers amid lockdown

In a message, Kejriwal promised all possible help to the migrant workers, including payment of the rent in case they are unable to arrange for it,  and added that they should think fo their loved ones and their own health as coronavirus is highly contagious.

Distressing accounts had surfaced on Saturday night from the national capital where thousands of migrant workers, even while fearing for their lives due to virus spread, crowded into bus terminals around Delhi to return back to their hometowns and villages in Uttar Pradesh after they were left with no jobs, shelter or money

"We have made arrangements for you to stay. Sleeping arrangements have been made at schools. An entire stadium has been vacated," Kejriwal was quoted as saying by NDTV.

His appeal comes after Central government on Sunday said that landlords should not charge their tenants during this period. However, it is being said that many migrant labourers were evicted, reported NDTV.

The Delhi government has set up community kitchens to help the poor and the needy when all sorts of earning opportunities have ceased due to the lockdown.

Kejriwal said the Prime Minister while announcing the lockdown had said--"Jo jahan hai, wahi rahe(Please stay wherever you are)" and this should be taken as the lockdown mantra. Going against this will fail all efforts being made to contain coronavirus spread.

He told the workers that the virus can spread across an entire village or town even if two or four workers have the infection.

Meanwhile, the Centre has asked the states to seal their borders and encourage the migrant workers stay where they are and make arrangements for their food and all essentials to support them.