New Delhi: Slamming the Centre over the train accident in Odisha, the AAP on Saturday alleged the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government's entire focus is on "PR exercise and showing off" and not passengers' safety.
In a video message, AAP national general secretary (organisation) and Rajya Sabha MP Sandeep Pathak claimed anti-collision devices, which are crucial to avoid accidents, have been installed on just 2 per cent of the country's rail network. Pathak also extended his condolences to the bereaved families.
At least 288 people were killed and more than 800 injured in a train crash involving the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, the Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express and a goods train in Odisha's Balasore district on Friday. The two express trains were carrying nearly 2,000 people.
Pathak, who is also a member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Railways, said ensuring the safety of train passengers is not on the government's agenda. "In the last meeting of the railway committee, I had suggested that the government focus on the safety and security of passengers first. But the government's entire focus is on PR and showing off, not on safety and security," he said.
Installing anti-collision devices is the most important measure to avoid accidents but only 2 per cent of India's 65,000-kilometre rail network is equipped with these, he claimed. If the Modi government has covered just 2 per cent of the rail network in nine years, then it means that it will take more than 400 years to install anti-collision devices across the network, he said.
According to Pathak, only 65 of the country's 23,000 trains are equipped with anti-collision devices. "We have received information that anti-collision devices have been installed in just 65 of the total 23,000 trains in the country, which is less than 0.2 per cent. This makes it clear that safety is not the government's priority," the AAP leader charged.
In 2014, the government had said that anti-derailment devices will be installed across all rail networks, Pathak said. But no data is available on this, he said. Pathak said upgrading railway tracks is another important measure that can prevent derailment of trains. Of the 65,000-kilometre railway network, upgradation work has been carried out for just 37,000 kilometres of tracks, he claimed.
'Least bothered about passenger safety': Lalu takes on Centre over Odisha train tragedy
Alleging that the BJP-led government at the Centre has "destroyed" the railways, RJD chief Lalu Prasad on Saturday claimed that sheer negligence has caused the train tragedy in Odisha's Balasore district. Prasad, who is a former railway minister, said the government must also consider increasing the ex-gratia announced for the injured.
"I extend my heartfelt condolences to the victims and their families. A high-level inquiry must be ordered to find out the reason behind the accident, and also fix the responsibilities," he told reporters. "The government at the centre has completely destroyed Indian Railways. They are least bothered about the safety of the passengers. It's sheer negligence on the part of the railway authorities," he added.
"At least Rs 5 lakh ex-gratia should be given to those severely injured," said Prasad. The railway ministry has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh for the deceased, Rs 2 lakh for those severely injured, and Rs 50,000 for those who sustained minor injuries. Additionally, PM Narendra Modi announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF).
Meanwhile, RJD's partner JD(U) demanded the resignation of Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. "The railway minister must resign after this incident. Our leader Nitish Kumar had resigned as railway minister taking moral responsibility for the Gaisal train disaster in Assam in August 1999 that had killed 290 people," JD(U) spokesperson Abhishek Jha said.
