LUCKNOW, Nov. 20 -- The Uttar Pradesh Congress on Wednesday demanded that all mines operating illegally and without meeting safety standards in the state be shut down and strict action taken against their owners, along with an immediate audit of all mines in Sonbhadra. UP Congress Committee president Ajay Rai visited Panari village in Sonbhadra to meet the families of Indrajit Yadav and Santosh Yadav, who were killed in the stone quarry collapse at Billi Markundi under the Obra police station area on November 15. He expressed condolences to the bereaved families. Rai said mines operating without standards must be immediately closed, adding that Sonbhadra generates significant revenue and therefore the NDRF and SDRF should be permanently deployed in the district. He demanded financial assistance of Rs.50 lakh and a government job for each affected family. Rai said an audit of all mines in Sonbhadra must be conducted and illegal mining accidents should be treated as a serious crime, with charges of murder imposed on the culprits. He also demanded that mine workers be provided insurance, safety equipment and basic protections, and that accountability be clearly fixed for lapses. "The mining mafia-government nexus is claiming the lives of tribal labourers, but the chief minister is silent. This is an insult to both humanity and Birsa Munda," Rai said while addressing media persons. "This Modi-Yogi government has become the biggest enemy of tribal society. On the one hand, the chief minister was on stage marking Tribal Pride Day; on the other, tribal labourers were sinking into pits of death just a kilometre and a half away," Rai remarked....