Rail Budget 2012 presented, TMC wants to derail it

‘If working for the country is revolt, then let it be’

Union Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi reacts after being slammed by his own party over fare hike

Lakshmi Iyer and Jayatri Nag

Posted On Thursday, March 15, 2012 at 07:52:52 AM

Deepak Turbhekar

Train commuters catch the Rail Budget live on televsion at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus in Mumbai on Wednesday

Breaking an 8-year populist trend of staying away from passenger fares, Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi on Wednesday proposed an across-the-board hike in rates for rail travel to net Rs 4,000 crore extra in a year. However, moments later, his own party Trinamool Congress slammed the move — that can set off a political crisis in his party as well as the UPA.
Addressing a rally in Nandigram, Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee said, “I did not have any prior knowledge that the fares were being hiked. We are against inflicting a burden on the common people. We will not allow the fare hike to take effect in the interest of the common people.”
Putting a combative face, Trivedi said, “If working for the country is revolt, then let it be.”
He said the fare hike was unavoidable as the Centre was not giving adequate budgetary support. “If fares are not hiked, Indian Railways will become sick like Air India. It was getting into the ICU and I have pulled it out,” he said.
The minister said the party leadership was not aware of the provisions made in the Railway Budget. “It is a misconception that the Railways is being run from Writers’ Building (office of West Bengal CM).”
Trivedi also linked the fare hike to safety of rail passengers. “I’ve done my duty. If there is a roll back, it would mean compromising rail safety.”
Complimenting Trivedi on his first rail budget, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said, “The Railway Minister has presented a forward-looking budget with emphasis on safety and modernisation of the Indian Railways.”
TMC puts Trivedi on notice
Sudip Bandopadhyay, TMC leader said that a delegation of party MPs would meet the PM on Thursday on the issue. “The party would also move cut motion against it. We may propose another name for railway ministry,” he said.
Cut motion is a veto power given to Lok Sabha members to oppose a move in a financial bill. This can turn into an effective tool to test the strength of the government. If a cut motion is adopted by the House and the government does not have the numbers, it is obliged to resign.
► The Shayar rail minister
Kandhe jhuk gaye hai
Kamar lachak gayi hai
Bojha utha utha kar
Bechari rail thak gayi hai
Rail gadi ko nayi dawa, naya asar chahiye
Is safar mein mujhko aapsa humsafar chahiye

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