Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) Media Cell chairman Sarat Rout on Saturday lamented that the Narendra Modi-led BJP Government hiked railway fare even before the Railway Budget was to be presented in the Parliament and demanded immediate rollback of hike. He also threatened to take to the streets against the Central Government’s announcement unless the demand is fulfilled.
The newly-formed BJP Government in the Centre has hiked the price of diesel and petrol barely two days ago. It is anti-middle class and anti-poor, Rout maintained.
“Fare hike across the board will affect the passengers at large. Hike in freight charges will further aggravate inflation and lead to price rise,” Rout said.
Notably, the Railway Ministry on Friday has effected a steep across-the-board hike of 14.2 per cent in passenger fares in all classes and a 6.5 per cent increase in freight rates.