Rail fare hike: Congress alleges BJP-BJD nexus Demands special discussion in Assembly
The hike in the train passenger fare and freight charges had its echo in the State Assembly on Saturday with the main Opposition Congress demanding a special two-hour discussion on the issue from the point of view its impact on the State.
The Congress members also displayed placards opposing the rail fare hike and criticising the ruling BJD for its silence on the NDA Government’s move and the increase of VAT rate on petrol and diesel by the State BJD Government as soon as the House commenced its business at 10.30 am.
However, the ruling BJD Members condemning the move as anti-people and anti-poor in particular favoured a unanimous resolution for rollback of the decisions. The issue was raised during the Zero Hour. BJD Member Amar Prasad Satapathy through a point of order said the hike in the rail fare would affect the passengers and lead to price rise due to the increase in freight charges. The House should debate over the issue and pass a resolution against the anti-people move of the Center.
Government Chief Whip Ananta Das also said that the hike in fare and freight charges was not acceptable and should be withdrawn. BJD Member Pravat Ranjan Biswal though protested the rail fare hike defended the State Government’s decision to levy higher tax on petrol and diesel to augment resources for expediting developmental programmes.
On the other hand, Congress Members such as Tara Prasad Bahinipati, Bhujabal Majhi and Dr Prafulla Majhi alleged that the rail fare hike had exposed the nexus between the BJP-led NDA and the ruling BJD in the State.
Describing the BJP and the BJD as two sides of the same coin, they sought to know why the BJD was silent on the fare and freight hike now when the ruling party had hit the streets and demonstrated before the Raj Bhawan a number of times during the UPA regime against the rail fare hike and hike in petroleum products.