TMC Criticizes Railway Minister Amid Train Accidents and Financial Dues

The TMC criticized Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for focusing on bullet trains while neglecting safety, leading to numerous accidents. They also addressed pending financial dues from the Centre to West Bengal, accusing the Union government of withholding funds due to political reasons.

The TMC on Wednesday strongly criticized Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for his remarks on bullet trains, demanding accountability for the recent surge in train accidents, which have made commuting hazardous.

Senior TMC leaders Kunal Ghosh and Chandrima Bhattacharya highlighted the increasing train mishaps, indicating systemic flaws within the railway infrastructure.

Ghosh argued that the railways have deteriorated, merely inaugurating new trains while neglecting existing ones. Meanwhile, Vaishnaw announced the ongoing development of bullet trains with Japanese collaboration.

The TMC questioned if the Railway Minister will take responsibility for the frequent accidents and criticized the central government for unfilled railway posts.

Further, the TMC raised concerns about the state's financial dues, accusing the Union government of withholding funds out of vindictive politics since their 2021 electoral loss. Bhattacharya noted Bengal's outstanding dues stand at Rs 1.71 lakh-crore.

The TMC cited misleading claims from the Union Finance Minister, asserting that Bengal's MGNREGA funds have been withheld since March 2022.

The Trinamool Congress staged a Lok Sabha walkout, demanding a white paper to clarify the funds given to Bengal under MGNREGA.