Hundreds of workers and leaders of the major Opposition Congress on Sunday took to the streets blocking rail traffic in the city to protest against the steep hike in passenger fares and freight rates.
Demanding an immediate roll back of the hike, they said the massive increase in passenger fares would fuelinflation further burdening the common people.
The protestors burnt the effigy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Habibganj railway station earlier in the day.
Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) women’s cell president Mandvi Chauhan said, “Today all the wings of the Congress party including the Youth Congress, Women’s Congress and the National Students Union of India have together come on the streets to demand reduction in rail fare. We will continue to protest till they don’t take back their decision.”
The protestors, though, were able to block trains only for a few minutes as the police quickly cleared the area.
Youth Congress leader Manoj Shukla said, “The hike in rail fare will affect other goods also and will make the basic necessities very expensive. Even a price of needle will increase. We are protesting against it. The promises that they made and on the basis of which they were elected, they are doing the opposite of that now.
If they have promised something then they should do it also.”
The Government has increased rail passenger fares by 14.2 per cent and freight rates by 6.5 per cent, which has led to an outcry by the Opposition parties.
The decision has resulted in protests across the country demanding the Government take back its decision.
Bhopal District Congress Committee president PC Sharma Said, “It is a massive hike. How can they increase the fair just couple of weeks before the Budget Session of Parliament. People who used to talk about ‘achche din’ (good days) before the elections are now talking about bitter medicines.”