The Indian Railways is facing intense scrutiny following a series of recent train accidents. Criticism is mounting against Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, with allegations that he is evading responsibility. Despite touching on ambitious projects like the Vande Bharat Express and bullet trains in his recent Lok Sabha address, Vaishnaw did not mention the accidents, focusing instead on praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This omission has drawn sharp criticism from the opposition, who accuse him of being more of a ‘publicity minister’ than a railway minister.
The Lok Sabha session turned turbulent as Vaishnaw, facing relentless opposition attacks, brought up the record of former Railway Minister and current West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. He highlighted her efforts in reducing accidents during her tenure, noting that incidents dropped from 0.24 to 0.19. Vaishnaw claimed that under his leadership, the accident rate has further decreased to 0.03. “If Mamata received applause for her efforts, why should we face criticism now?” he questioned.
Vaishnaw’s remarks were a response to opposition allegations that he only shows up for photo opportunities rather than addressing the real issues. He defended his ministry’s track record, pointing out that past governments failed to implement crucial safety measures like Automatic Train Protection systems over decades. “How do they dare to question now?” he retorted, accusing Congress of spreading false information and inciting fear among millions through social media.
The opposition, particularly Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi, responded sharply. Gogoi accused Vaishnaw of deflecting responsibility by blaming history instead of accepting current accountability. He sarcastically dubbed Vaishnaw the ‘derailed minister,’ criticizing the government’s failure to address key issues like staffing shortages in the railways.
Vaishnaw countered these accusations by presenting recruitment figures. He stated that while the UPA government hired 411,000 employees between 2004 and 2014, the NDA government has recruited 502,000 from 2014 to 2024. He acknowledged that 40,565 positions remain vacant but assured that efforts are underway to fill these gaps. He also mentioned reforms introduced in 2016 to improve working conditions for loco pilots, including air-conditioned cabs and better rest facilities, which were previously unavailable.
Additionally, Vaishnaw revealed plans for extensive infrastructure improvements. The government is currently working on 2,500 new general coaches, with a target of producing 10,000. Future plans include ensuring that every mail and express train has at least four general coaches, maintaining a two-thirds non-AC to one-third AC coach ratio.
Despite these assurances, the debate over safety and accountability in Indian Railways continues. The opposition remains unconvinced, emphasizing the need for immediate and effective action to prevent further accidents. The session underscored the growing demand for transparency and responsibility within the ministry, highlighting the significant challenges ahead for Vaishnaw and his team.
Read more: https://thelocaljournalist.com/bjp-leader-v-muraleedharan-on-recent-land-slides/
