The triple train crash in Odisha, which resulted in the death of at least 238 people and left over 900 injured, has sparked a political blame game. The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) took a dig at the central government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, criticizing the merger of the Railways budget with the general budget. The party, headed by former railway minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, lamented that there was a time when the country knew the name of the railway minister, but now all decisions seem to be made by a “narcissistic propaganda minister.”)
In a tweet, the RJD expressed its concerns about the tragic train accident and highlighted the changes in the railway system. They emphasised that there was a time when the Railway Minister had a prominent role and the Railway Budget was presented separately. They also expressed dissatisfaction with the perceived privatisation of the railways and the decline in job opportunities for the youth.
The RJD’s comments seemed to take a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is often seen inaugurating various initiatives, including the Vande Bharat Express trains, symbolised by the green flag. The party implied that the focus on self-promotion overshadowed the critical aspects of railway governance.
Devastating Odisha Train Catastrophe Claims 238 Lives: Political Parties Lock Horns in Verbal Battle
Meanwhile, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh acknowledged the severity of the tragedy and called it a matter of great anguish. He emphasized the importance of prioritizing safety in the functioning of the rail network. Ramesh acknowledged that there are legitimate questions to be raised about the incident but suggested that they should be addressed at a later time.
Expressing his condolences, Ramesh tweeted, “The rail crash in Odisha is truly horrendous. It is a matter of the greatest anguish. It reinforces why SAFETY should always be the foremost priority in the functioning of the rail network. There are many legitimate questions that need to be raised, but that should wait till tomorrow.”
The triple train crash in Balasore district of Odisha sent shockwaves across the nation. Rescue operations were promptly initiated, with officials in Bhubaneswar deploying a large number of ambulances, buses, and mobile health units to the accident site. Approximately 1,200 personnel were involved in the rescue efforts. Unfortunately, the death toll continued to rise, reaching 238 as confirmed by Odisha Chief Secretary PK Jena.
As investigations into the accident continue, political parties have seized the opportunity to criticise and question the railway administration and policies. While the RJD highlighted the perceived decline in prominence of the Railway Ministry and criticised the government’s approach, the Congress urged caution and called for focusing on immediate rescue and relief efforts before engaging in a deeper analysis of the incident.
The tragic train crash in Odisha serves as a grim reminder of the importance of safety in the railways and the need for thorough investigations to prevent such incidents in the future. The nation mourns the loss of lives and hopes for swift action to ensure the well-being of passengers and the overall improvement of the rail network’s safety measures.
In a devastating incident that unfolded in Odisha‘s Balasore district, a triple train crash resulted in the loss of at least 238 lives and left over 900 individuals injured. As the nation grapples with the aftermath of this horrific accident, political parties have engaged in a blame game, further exacerbating the distressing situation.
Explosive Political Clash Ignites in the Aftermath of Odisha Train Crash: RJD Launches Scathing Attack on PM Modi, Congress Urges Restraint until Tomorrow
The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), led by former railway minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, took a swipe at the central government, particularly criticizing the merger of the Railways budget with the general budget. The party lamented the current state of affairs, noting that there was a time when the railway minister held a prominent position, and the Railway Budget was presented separately. The RJD expressed concern over the perceived privatization of the railways, which they believed has led to a decline in job opportunities for the youth.
In a tweet that reflected their dissatisfaction, the RJD stated, “Tragic train accident. There was a time when the country knew the name of the Railway Minister. The Railway Budget used to be presented separately. Railways had not been privatised. The youth used to get lakhs of jobs in the railways.” The party also made a veiled reference to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, implying that decisions are now made solely by a “narcissistic propaganda minister” who symbolically waves the green flag.
Meanwhile, Jairam Ramesh, a senior leader of the Congress party, expressed his deep anguish over the incident. He emphasised the paramount importance of safety in the functioning of the rail network. While acknowledging that there are valid questions that need to be raised about the tragedy, Ramesh suggested that it would be more appropriate to address them after the immediate rescue and relief efforts had been carried out.