The Social Democratic Party of India, (SDPI), has criticised the proposed fare hike in the Railway Budget 2012-13 which was presented in Parliament on Wednesday.
SDPI national president Mr. E. Aboobacker in a statement said that this rail budget is just to disturb the common man, who is already reeling under inflation and hike in petroleum products prices, and compound his problems to make both ends meet. He also protested the hike in platform ticket which will now cost Rs. 5 instead of Rs. 3. The railway budget will have adverse impact on economy of the country, he added.
Mr. Aboobacker said it is good to learn that a furious Trinamool Congress chief Ms Mamata Banerjee has reportedly raised banner of revolt against the fare hike and is hell bent to undo the wrong done by her own party colleague who had the temerity to defy her and keep her allegedly in the dark about the increase in railway ticket fares. She had repeatedly warned the Railway Minister Mr. Dinesh Trivedi against tinkering with passenger fares in the run-up to the budget but the railway minister did not consult the party before raising the fares.
He said that the Railway ministry should have implemented and completed previous plans announced by Ms Mamata Banerjee last year as a Union Railway Minister rather than declaring new schemes which is again doubtful to be completed.
Mr. Aboobacker said that the ministers in the last nine years did not increase rail fares for their political career so that they can create a positive image in front of the people. However, as far as Mr. Dinesh Trivedi is concerned he knows that it is the first and last time to be in the ministry so he went for the fare hike. In fact all the budget of this year is not for development of common man but to increase problems in his life, the statement said. (pervezbari@eth.net)