Stay, will pay your rent, Kejriwal appeals amid migrants' exodus

Appealing to migrant workers to not move from Delhi to other states, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday (March 29), said his government has made food and boarding arrangements for them and if the lockdown is not followed, the country will fail to contain the coronavirus outbreak.

Addressing a digital press conference, the chief minister said the mantra to make the 21-day nationwide lockdown successful was to “stay where you are” just as Prime Minister Narendra Modi had requested.

“A large number of people are returning from cities they work in to their villages due to the coronavirus lockdown. I appeal to them, please stay wherever you are,” he said.

“We have seen what has happened in some of the developed countries like the US and Italy. Thankfully, India is not in that stage yet. But going into a crowd will invite risks of infection,” Kejriwal added.

In his appeal, he also said, landlords should not force tenants to pay rent and if anyone unable to pay, the government will pay on their behalf.

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The Delhi government has made arrangements in schools for lodging purposes, the chief minister reassured.

“We have emptied the stadiums and made arrangements for people to stay there too if the need arises. We are giving free food to 4 lakh people daily. Let’s fight this together,” he added.

Thousands of migrant workers from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand have started walking back to their homes due to the lockdown, insecurity of work and money.

So far, 49 coronavirus cases have been reported in the national capital.

(With inputs from agencies.)