New Delhi: Accusing the government of 'ruining' Indian Railways, the Congress on Tuesday demanded the resignation of Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in the wake of the Kanchenjunga Express accident, saying she has no moral right to continue in the post.
The opposition party also took a dig at Vaishnav for reaching the accident site riding a pillion on a motorcycle and asked whether he was a railway minister or a "reel minister".
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said that whenever a train accident occurs, the Railway Minister of the Modi government reaches the spot under the glare of cameras and behaves as if everything is fine. "Narendra Modi ji, tell us who is held accountable." Should the Railway Minister go or you?" the Congress chief asked.
Kharge asked seven questions from the government and sought answers.
After a major accident like Balasore, why not even a kilometer was added to the much-hyped "Kavach" anti-train collision system, he asked. Why are nearly 3 lakh posts vacant in the Railways, why were they not filled in the last 10 years? NCRB According to (2022) report, 1,00,000 people have died in rail accidents between 2017 and 2021 alone! Who will take responsibility? the Congress chief asked.
He said the Railway Board itself has admitted that long working hours of loco pilots due to acute shortage of manpower is the main reason for the increasing number of accidents and asked why the posts were not filled."In its 323rd report, the Parliamentary Standing Committee had criticized the Railways for the 'neglect' shown by the Railway Board towards the recommendations of the Commission of Railway Safety (CRS). It was underlined that the CRS was only 8%-10% "Investigates that in case of accidents, why was CRS not strengthened?" Kharge asked. He asked why according to the CAG, 75% funding was reduced in the 'Rashtriya Rail Safety Fund' (RRSK), when Rs 20,000 crore was to be made available every year.
Kharge further asked, why are the railway officials using this money on unnecessary expenses and amenities?
"Why has traveling by train in general sleeper class become so expensive? Why has the number of sleeper coaches been reduced? The Railway Minister recently threatened to use police force against people 'crowding' in railway coaches. Said this. But doesn't he know that 2.7 crore people had to cancel their tickets last year due to severe shortage of seats - this was a direct result of the Modi government's policy of reducing coaches?" Kharge said. He asked, did the Modi government merge the Railway Budget with the General Budget in 2017-18 to avoid any kind of accountability?
Kharge said in his post on
Addressing a press conference at the AICC headquarters here, Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said that as far as the middle class, lower middle class and the poor are concerned, railways is probably the most preferred mode of transport as it is the most economical mode of transport. Is..He showed photographs of the Balasore train accident last June and Monday's accident and asked what had changed between this period.
Shrinate said that since 2014-23, there have been 1,117 railway accidents, which means one accident every three days.
He said these accidents have caused loss of life and property. "Who will take moral responsibility for this? We have seen railway ministers in the past taking moral responsibility and resigning from their posts. But here we have such a minister. Who does not miss any opportunity even in times of crisis."The plight and tragedy of reel making. He is not the Railway Minister, he is the Reel Minister of India," Shrinate said.
"Even when he (Vaishnav) went to Darjeeling and went to the accident site, he sat on the back of the bike without a helmet, so that he could be captured better in the video. Is this your priority?" Srinet asked.
He said the "armor protection" that the government had boasted about has failed in the country. He asked, "What do 3,12,000 vacancies in Indian Railways tell us?"What does 21 per cent vacancies for loco pilots explain?"
On whether Congress demands Vaishnav's resignation, Shrinate said, "Without any doubt. A government that is sensitive and accountable will hold accountable every minister and every department. 1,117 railway tracks in nine years from 2014 to 2023 What do accidents say? Who is responsible for this?
"What did Ashwini Vaishnav do in Balasore from June last year to June this year to not only modernize but also make the railways safe? Unless you fix responsibility, unless you fix accountability, how can people trust governance? How should people know that they will be safe while traveling in the railways,” Shrinate said.He said, "Absolutely, without a doubt, without blinking an eye, Ashwini Vaishnav has no moral right to continue in the position he is enjoying."
Shrinate said that Railways is the lifeline of India but today there is a doubt in the mind of every passenger whether he or his dead body will reach the destination or not.
He said, “This record has been set by Narendra Modi and his government.“The reality is that this government has left no stone unturned to “ruin” Indian Railways.
The opposition party also took a dig at Vaishnav for reaching the accident site riding a pillion on a motorcycle and asked whether he was a railway minister or a "reel minister".
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said that whenever a train accident occurs, the Railway Minister of the Modi government reaches the spot under the glare of cameras and behaves as if everything is fine. "Narendra Modi ji, tell us who is held accountable." Should the Railway Minister go or you?" the Congress chief asked.
Kharge asked seven questions from the government and sought answers.
After a major accident like Balasore, why not even a kilometer was added to the much-hyped "Kavach" anti-train collision system, he asked. Why are nearly 3 lakh posts vacant in the Railways, why were they not filled in the last 10 years? NCRB According to (2022) report, 1,00,000 people have died in rail accidents between 2017 and 2021 alone! Who will take responsibility? the Congress chief asked.
He said the Railway Board itself has admitted that long working hours of loco pilots due to acute shortage of manpower is the main reason for the increasing number of accidents and asked why the posts were not filled."In its 323rd report, the Parliamentary Standing Committee had criticized the Railways for the 'neglect' shown by the Railway Board towards the recommendations of the Commission of Railway Safety (CRS). It was underlined that the CRS was only 8%-10% "Investigates that in case of accidents, why was CRS not strengthened?" Kharge asked. He asked why according to the CAG, 75% funding was reduced in the 'Rashtriya Rail Safety Fund' (RRSK), when Rs 20,000 crore was to be made available every year.
Kharge further asked, why are the railway officials using this money on unnecessary expenses and amenities?
"Why has traveling by train in general sleeper class become so expensive? Why has the number of sleeper coaches been reduced? The Railway Minister recently threatened to use police force against people 'crowding' in railway coaches. Said this. But doesn't he know that 2.7 crore people had to cancel their tickets last year due to severe shortage of seats - this was a direct result of the Modi government's policy of reducing coaches?" Kharge said. He asked, did the Modi government merge the Railway Budget with the General Budget in 2017-18 to avoid any kind of accountability?
Kharge said in his post on
Addressing a press conference at the AICC headquarters here, Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said that as far as the middle class, lower middle class and the poor are concerned, railways is probably the most preferred mode of transport as it is the most economical mode of transport. Is..He showed photographs of the Balasore train accident last June and Monday's accident and asked what had changed between this period.
Shrinate said that since 2014-23, there have been 1,117 railway accidents, which means one accident every three days.
He said these accidents have caused loss of life and property. "Who will take moral responsibility for this? We have seen railway ministers in the past taking moral responsibility and resigning from their posts. But here we have such a minister. Who does not miss any opportunity even in times of crisis."The plight and tragedy of reel making. He is not the Railway Minister, he is the Reel Minister of India," Shrinate said.
"Even when he (Vaishnav) went to Darjeeling and went to the accident site, he sat on the back of the bike without a helmet, so that he could be captured better in the video. Is this your priority?" Srinet asked.
He said the "armor protection" that the government had boasted about has failed in the country. He asked, "What do 3,12,000 vacancies in Indian Railways tell us?"What does 21 per cent vacancies for loco pilots explain?"
On whether Congress demands Vaishnav's resignation, Shrinate said, "Without any doubt. A government that is sensitive and accountable will hold accountable every minister and every department. 1,117 railway tracks in nine years from 2014 to 2023 What do accidents say? Who is responsible for this?
"What did Ashwini Vaishnav do in Balasore from June last year to June this year to not only modernize but also make the railways safe? Unless you fix responsibility, unless you fix accountability, how can people trust governance? How should people know that they will be safe while traveling in the railways,” Shrinate said.He said, "Absolutely, without a doubt, without blinking an eye, Ashwini Vaishnav has no moral right to continue in the position he is enjoying."
Shrinate said that Railways is the lifeline of India but today there is a doubt in the mind of every passenger whether he or his dead body will reach the destination or not.
He said, “This record has been set by Narendra Modi and his government.“The reality is that this government has left no stone unturned to “ruin” Indian Railways.
