‘Rail fare hike last nail in UPA coffin’

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Wednesday described the increase in Railway fares as the "last nail in the coffin" of Congress-led UPA government, which was "least sensitive to the hardships of a common man".

In a statement, Badal said the hike of 2 to 10 paise per kilometre was a stab in the back of countrymen, especially the poor, for whom Railways was the only mode of economic and viable public carrier. "Today, people belonging to different strata of the society feel ditched and dejected despite assurance by the Centre that there would be no increase in the Railway fares. The hike would put a hole in the pocket of common man, as fares of alternate public transport systems, including state roadways buses, has already been enhanced to offset the subsequent hikes in the prices of diesel," he added.

Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, while slamming the decision, said: "The voters are ruing the day when they elected this insensitive government, which was making every essential commodity out of their reach by raising their prices."

Questioning the silence of state Congress chief Captain Amarinder Singh on diesel, LPG price and rail fare hike, Sukhbir said: "These media-savvy paper leaders are confining their politics to daily statements. They are hardly concerned about the hardships being faced by the people..."

ALSO READ

Family of 1971 POW awaits his return from Pak, fears for his life

Anti-Pakistan protests erupt in Sarabjit's native village

Promised jobs in Iraq, 20 youth return empty-handed

What will govt gain by hanging Bhullar: Punjab CM Badal