‘PM Modi busy flagging off trains, no attention to rail safety’: Congress on Odisha train accident

The Congress party has stepped up its attack on the Narendra Modi government, two days after the tragic triple train accident in Odisha’s Balasore in which around 288 people were killed while over 1100 were injured. Congress leaders have accused the Modi government of ignoring several red flags and indulging only in a PR exercise. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said on Twitter that the advertising PR gimmick has hollowed out the functioning of the Modi government. He also asked many questions to the Modi government.

‘Millions of vacancies, repair warnings ignored’

“3 lakh posts are vacant in Railways, posts of top officials recruited in PMO are also vacant, why were they not filled in 9 years? The reason is the acute shortage of manpower is the main reason for the increasing number of accidents. Then why the posts have not been filled? The Principal Chief Operating Manager of South Western Railway zone on 8 February 2023, citing a tragedy in Mysore, ordered the repair of the signaling system. Requested and warned. Collision of trains averted. Why didn’t the Ministry of Railways implement it?” asked Kharge.

The Congress President further said that the Parliamentary Standing Committee in its 323rd report criticized the Indian Railways for the “disregard” shown by the Railway Board towards the recommendations of the Commission of Railway Safety (CRS). He claimed that CRS investigates only 8-10% of accidents. Kharge asked why the Modi government had not strengthened the CRS.

‘Reduction in funding, decline in renovation works’

“According to the CAG, a shortfall of 79% funds was registered in the National Rail Safety Fund (RRSK), while Rs 20,000 crore was to be provided every year. Why has there been a drastic drop in the volume of track renewal works? India in Train 2011 The Collision Avoidance System developed by Research Designs and Standards Organization (RDSO) of India was renamed “Kavach” by the Modi government and was demonstrated by the Railway Minister himself in March 2022. Yet only 4% of the routes have Kavach so far. Why is it?” asked Kharge.

Kharge said that only when accountability is fixed from top to bottom, the victims of the train accident will get justice. “Mr Modi, you are busy flagging off whitewashed trains every day but pay no heed to rail safety. Accountability of check posts from top to bottom has to be fixed so that such accidents can be prevented in future.” Kharge said.

Why 79% funding work was done in Rashtriya Rail Sanraksha Kosh (RRSK) as per CAG, when ₹20,000 Cr opportunities were available every year.

Why has there been a drastic drop in the amount of track renewal works? pic.twitter.com/VmtKUClve5— Mallikarjun Kharge (@Kharge) June 4, 2023

‘Recipe for Disaster: Sibbal’

Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal also attacked the Modi government and said that one minister cannot deal with railways as well as big ministries like communications, electronics and information technology, as current Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav does. “Ashwini Vaishnav, IT & Electronics Minister, Railways Minister. No Rail Budget. No Accountability. One Minister cannot deal with so many big ministries. Bullet trains. Vande Bharat. Serve the extraordinary, degrade the ordinary! To disaster recipe!” Sibal said.

‘Railway minister should resign’

The Congress party also demanded the resignation of Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav over the Odisha train accident. The grand old party alleged that the PR gimmick overshadowed the “serious shortcomings, criminal negligence and complete disregard for safety and security” of the Indian Railways. Congress party said, “We do not seek political scores during human tragedy. Madhavrao Scindia, Nitish Kumar and Lal Bahadur Shastri resigned on moral grounds. Railway minister should take responsibility but Modi and morality travel in opposite directions.” Are.”

odisha train accident background

Passenger and goods traffic between the important industrial centers was disrupted after a triple train derailment near Balasore on Friday. Many patients initially admitted in Balasore and other local hospitals have been shifted to larger cities with multi-specialty hospitals including Cuttack, Bhubaneshwar and Kolkata. At least 288 people were killed and over 1100 injured in the accident between two passenger trains and a goods train in Odisha’s Balasore district, one of the worst railway tragedies in the country. The Coromandel Express rammed into a stationary goods train at around 7 pm on Friday, derailing most of its coaches. Some passenger coaches of the Coromandel hit the last few coaches of the Bengaluru-Howrah Express, which was passing at the same time. (with agency inputs)