Rail Budget: Trinamul Congress demands roll-back
Mamata Banerjee is now as unpredictable as train timings in India.
Just minutes after railway minister Dinesh Trivedi concluded his Rail Budget speech - announcing a rate hike after nine years - his own party, the Trinamul Congress, opposed the hike and demanded a roll back.
"We oppose the rail fare hike. We want the government to roll-back. It is not in the interest of the common man," minister of state for health Sudip Bandyopadhyay, told a news channel.
When pointed out that Trivedi was himself a member of the Trinamool Congress, he said the Railway Minister has performed his 'constitutional duty' by presenting the Budget. "The Trinamul Congress never rolls back its demand," Bandopadhyay said.
Reports even claimed that Mamata Banerjee had gone ahead and demanded Trivedi's resignation.
However, a visibly stunned railway minister dismissed the media claims saying, Mamata 'was not even aware of the Budget proposals'.
"No comment," said Trivedi when asked if he would resign as Railways Minister in view of his party's opposition.
"Railways was getting into the ICU and I have pulled it out of ICU. You cannot have everything together. If you create such confusion I will never talk to you (Media). It's wrong to blame her (Mamata Banerjee). If you play too much politics with railways, then railways will say Jai Hind, Hum ja rahe hain," Trivedi added.
Members of the Trinamool Congress are now taking to Twitter to vent their anger against the proposed fair hikes.
"Sorry, cannot agree," tweeted Trinamul Congress leader Derek O'Brien.
O'Brien said hike in fare for upper classes may be okay but there was no justification for effecting the increase across the board.
"Railway Budget... what was all that about increasing fares across the board? Upper class...maybe ok...but all? Sorry, cannot agree," he said on Twitter.
Replying to a tweet whether he disagreed with the Union Minister on fare hike O'Brien said, "Yes,our party has issues on content."
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