1. On the evening, Narendra Modi announced a lockdown, he clearly told everyone "Aap Jahan hain, wahin rahiye". Next day, the migrant exodus began all over India but not one CM tried to stop it. On the contrary, they were happy to see them go. One even demanded trains for them.

2. When they realized they would be blamed for the exodus, they made a show of caring for migrants sleeping hungry on the riverside. As the trickle became a flood, they sat back and looked helpless. Some CMs pleaded with their counterparts to stop the exodus but to no avail. It

3. was left to the CMs from affected states to organise buses, food, and disinfectants and quarantine centres. So, who is to blame for the disaster that unfolded? When even the Nobel Laureate said migrants were the responsibility of the State and not centre, there was silence

4. from those lamenting the state of migrants. I have yet to hear one criticism from them against CMs who did nothing to stop the exodus of migrants. The blame has conveniently been deflected to the Centre. Even journalists reporting on the migrants have carefully avoided blaming

5. the CMs, when it is they who were squarely responsible. All that was required was some humanity. They had to provide them with 2 square meals if nothing else and some cash. But did they? It was NGOs, public-spirited individuals and local politicians who helped raise funds and

6. provide food to the poor. Of course, Modi is to blame for announcing a lockdown that gave people 4 hours to rush to their villages when they were not supposed to do. I am guessing he assumed the State would take care of its people, citizens, migrants, everybody - which they

7. didn't. The misery they have wrought on the hapless migrants would make a normal human being cringe, but these politicians are bereft of either conscience or guilt. They will walk over the dead and dying if they have to. These are the men of straw we have chosen to lead us.