Railway fare hike: Minister shown black flags, Modi's effigy torched :
VARANASI: Minister of state for railways Manoj Sinha had to face black flags and protests from Samajwadi Party supporters in Varanasi on Saturday against the hike in railway fares.
Sinha tried his best to defend Bharatiya Janata Party led NDA government on the issue and said: "The decision to hike passenger and goods fares is not of this government only but in its interim budget, the Congress led UPA government had already proposed for such hike before the parliamentary elections."
He was in the city to attend many programmes on Saturday. Before his arrival, the series of protests especially by the SP leaders and supporters had started in many parts of the city. A group of SP corporators burnt an effigy of the Prime Minister near Tilak statue in Sigra. Another group staged similar protest near City railway station. A group of SP supporters and lawyers reached district headquarters under the leadership of former district unit chief Rajnath Yadav where they set an effigy on fire. Sinha was shown black flags on Fatman Road when he left BJP's Gulab Bagh office for Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth (MGKV) in the evening.
Earlier, Sinha accorded warm welcome by partymen at Gulab Bagh office. During brief chat with reporters, he said, "The UPA government had already proposed a hike of 10% in passenger fare and 5% in goods fare in its interim budget. Due to promulgation of model code of conduct in view of parliamentary election, that decision could not be implemented." For political interests, he alleged, the UPA government did not make hike in the fares of railways due to which it was suffering a loss of Rs 900 crores per month.
With the increase in prices of diesel and electricity, the railway fares should be revised half yearly, he said. It could not happen and the financial condition of railways deteriorated and no major plans could be materialised. He said that for the betterment of railway, the new government has many ambitious plans. He said that in view of the possibility of increase in inflation due to effects of this hike, efforts have been intensified to keep the situation under control.Later, Sinha reached MGKV to attend a function hosted by the students' union of the university.
Sinha tried his best to defend Bharatiya Janata Party led NDA government on the issue and said: "The decision to hike passenger and goods fares is not of this government only but in its interim budget, the Congress led UPA government had already proposed for such hike before the parliamentary elections."
He was in the city to attend many programmes on Saturday. Before his arrival, the series of protests especially by the SP leaders and supporters had started in many parts of the city. A group of SP corporators burnt an effigy of the Prime Minister near Tilak statue in Sigra. Another group staged similar protest near City railway station. A group of SP supporters and lawyers reached district headquarters under the leadership of former district unit chief Rajnath Yadav where they set an effigy on fire. Sinha was shown black flags on Fatman Road when he left BJP's Gulab Bagh office for Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth (MGKV) in the evening.
Earlier, Sinha accorded warm welcome by partymen at Gulab Bagh office. During brief chat with reporters, he said, "The UPA government had already proposed a hike of 10% in passenger fare and 5% in goods fare in its interim budget. Due to promulgation of model code of conduct in view of parliamentary election, that decision could not be implemented." For political interests, he alleged, the UPA government did not make hike in the fares of railways due to which it was suffering a loss of Rs 900 crores per month.
With the increase in prices of diesel and electricity, the railway fares should be revised half yearly, he said. It could not happen and the financial condition of railways deteriorated and no major plans could be materialised. He said that for the betterment of railway, the new government has many ambitious plans. He said that in view of the possibility of increase in inflation due to effects of this hike, efforts have been intensified to keep the situation under control.Later, Sinha reached MGKV to attend a function hosted by the students' union of the university.
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