The Congress party has alleged that the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has disregarded numerous safety recommendations.
On Sunday, the Congress party called for the resignation of Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the train accident in Odisha on Friday. The Congress party accused the government of neglecting multiple safety recommendations.
During a press conference held in Delhi, Shaktisinh Gohil, a Member of Parliament (MP) from the Congress party, along with Pawan Khera, the head of the party’s media department, criticized the Ministry of Railways for what the department perceived as “mismanagement and negligence.”
Pawan Khera expressed his opinion that Prime Minister Narendra Modi metaphorically possesses a ‘shield’ that shields him from various matters, whereas the unfortunate individuals who lost their lives in the Coromandel Express incident lacked such protection.
Khera further mentioned that in the past, railway ministers like Lal Bahadur Shastri, Madhavrao Scindia, and Nitish Kumar resigned from their positions following train disasters. However, the possibility of any resignation at present is completely ruled out.
Pawan Khera criticized Vaishnaw, claiming that he engaged in “publicity stunts” instead of stepping down from his position. Khera further appealed to Prime Minister Modi to fulfil his “promise” of delivering “severe punishment” to those accountable for the tragedy.
Pawan Khera emphasized that showcasing 5-6 Vande Bharat trains cannot depict the true reality of the Indian railways. He questioned whether Prime Minister Modi would acknowledge the gravest rail incident of our time and demand the resignation of Union Rail Minister Ashwini Vaishnav.
Khera highlighted that a report from the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) in 2022, titled “Derailments in Indian Railways,” had identified various deficiencies and put forth several recommendations. One of the recommendations emphasized the need for strict adherence to predetermined timelines for conducting and concluding accident investigations.
At the same time, Shaktisinh Gohil expressed his belief that any compensation provided for the Odisha rail disaster would fall short. He highlighted that despite numerous recommendations from multiple committees, the government led by PM Modi failed to take any action.
Gohil further mentioned that in 2018 the independent commission on rail safety lost its independence as it was transferred to the rail ministry. He held the individuals responsible for making these decisions directly accountable for the tragic incident.
On Sunday, Vaishnaw stated that the train accident in Balasore, Odisha, which resulted in the death of at least 294 passengers and injured over 1,000, was attributed to a modification in electronic interlocking.
During his visit to the site on Saturday, Prime Minister Modi assured that comprehensive investigations would be conducted into the accident. He asserted that those responsible for the incident would not escape justice and would face the most severe punishment.
Photo credit: India Today
What Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav Says?
According to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, the train tragedy in Balasore, Odisha, which tragically claimed the lives of at least 294 passengers and left numerous others injured, was attributed to a modification in electronic interlocking.
On Sunday, the minister informed ANI that the commissioner of railway safety had conducted a thorough investigation, determining both the cause of the incident and the individuals accountable for it.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that although the commissioner of railway safety is awaiting the investigation report, they have already determined the cause of the incident and the individuals accountable for it. The tragic train accident in Balasore, Odisha, was attributed to a modification in electronic interlocking, according to the minister’s statement.
In response to Mamata Banerjee, the Chief Minister of West Bengal, raising a query about the absence of the ‘Kavach’ system, Ashwini Vaishnaw, the Railway Minister, clarified that the accident was unrelated to the anti-collision system.
He emphasized that the incident revolved around the point machine and electronic interlocking, where a change took place leading to the unfortunate event. The responsible parties and the details surrounding the incident will be uncovered through a thorough investigation, as stated by the minister.
