Cong slams centre over hike in rail fare, prices of LPG cylinders

Congress slammed the central government over the hike in train fares and the increase in the cost of LPG cylinders. The government on January 31, raised train fares marginally by one paise to four paise per kilometer depending on the travel class. It also hiked LPG cylinder rates by Rs 19 per cylinder.

New Delhi: The Congress on Wednesday slammed the Modi government over the hike in railway fares and the price of LPG cylinders, saying it will put the common man into a deeper financial crisis.

While addressing media at the AICC office in Delhi, Congress spokesperson Sushmita Dev said that more than two lakh thirty crores people depend upon the railways for travelling and once again the government has raised its prices.

Explaining the price hike, Dev said that though the increase might seem minor (1 paisa/km for general coach, 2 paisa/km for sleeper and 4 paisa/km for AC coach), it is not fair to the common man considering the state of economy in the past few months, the rise in unemployment and fall in the rural consumption.

In the new pricing, people travelling in general coach will be paying Rs 20 more, sleeper passengers will have to pay Rs 40 more and AC coach passengers will have to pay Rs80 more for 2000km.

Comparing the price of LPG gas cylinders, Dev said that the LPG gas cylinder costed Rs 695 in December and costs Rs 714 in January. In Kolkata, the price has increased from Rs 725.50 in December to Rs 747 in January and in Mumbai, it has increased from Rs 665 to Rs 684.50.

Question is when will the travesty going to end, Dev asked, asserting that the hike was "injustice towards the poor people".

"Is this a fair new year's gift to the common man, Congress thinks it is not," she said.

The government on December 31, raised train fares marginally by one paise to four paise per kilometer depending on the travel class. It also hiked LPG cylinder rates by Rs 19 per cylinder.