BJP activists protest against Railway Budget

JABALPUR - Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) activists staged a protest in Jabalpur accusing Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee of ignoring their region in the Railway Budget presented by her on Wednesday.

They criticised Banerjee’s decision to extend the termination of Mumbai-Jabalpur Garib Rath train to Allahabad and for the cancellation of several trains having halts at Jabalpur.

The protest later turned violent as these activists marched to the Jabalpur Railway Station and stopped a train, besides setting an engine on fire believed to be a locomotive of Gondwana bound train.

Consequently, train services in the division remained affected for a couple of hours as the Pune-Patna Express train was detained at Jabalpur.

The protestors mounted on the engine of the train and raised slogans condemning the Railway Minister and the Central Government.

BJP activist Rakesh Singh said, “What we have achieved after hard labour, Garib Rath train from Jabalpur to Mumbai has been snatched way. This is an insult to the people of Jabalpur.”

“People of Jabalpur are not ready to forgive this move by the Railway Minister,” added Singh.

Security personnel of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) had to step in to bring the situation under control.

RPF Superintendent of Police (SP) Shailendra Pandey said, “The train which was stopped has left. Patna-Pune had been the only train that was stopped; the first information report (FIR) has been lodged.”

Railway Minister Mamta Banerjee has offered a lot for Maharashtra in the railway budget she presented to the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.

There are five new Duronto air-conditioned Express trains, plus 10 new trains to different parts of India, and extension of routes and frequencies of other trains. (ANI)