New Delhi. Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday attacked the BJP government over the mismanagement of Railways, arbitrary fares, increase in accidents, delayed running of trains, cancellations and overcrowding at stations during Chhath festival, stampede at many stations.

He urged Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav not to make railways a ride for the rich, but to make the common people board the trains with respect, trust and safety.

In a post on her WhatsApp channel, Priyanka Gandhi said: “Greece for money and publicity has ruined the railways. Arbitrary fares, train accidents one after another, delayed arrivals, huge crowds at railway stations and gross mismanagement. With all this, there is complete negligence, mismanagement and anarchy in the Railways, the consequences of which are being borne by the common man.”

He said that since it is the festive season, Diwali has just passed and Chhath Puja is going on, many people working in distant cities are traveling to go back to their homes, but the Railways is not letting them know. Can’t even give assurance that the goods will be safe.

He said, “Arbitrary fares are being charged and passengers are being looted in the name of special trains. The situation is such that people are entering the train through the windows and passengers are being stuffed into the compartments like luggage. The self-respect of the traveling citizen is being ruined. Why is this happening?”

He said the government has spent huge money on redesigning buildings at selected stations, while some new trains are being promoted as if the Indian Railways has been magically transformed.

Priyanka Gandhi said, “Such a cry of hollow propaganda is rare in the history of the country. This is not the worship of India, but of greed and money, due to which the plight and cries of millions of Indian citizens get drowned out while traveling by train. The government does not want to see or hear all this, the media does not want to show or tell. Strange situation. “A fake story is being created by showing some selected photographs and videos and it is being termed as ‘Amritkaal’.”

Congress General Secretary said, “Railway Minister Sir, you should worship ‘Amritkaal’. But in the greed of earning more, do not make railways a ride for the rich. It is the only long distance mode of transportation for the middle class and the poor. Therefore, let the farmers, workers, laborers, women, children and the vast middle class of the country board the train with full respect, trust and safety. Indian Railways is the treasure of the general public. This is the real ‘Bharat Vandana’.”

His comments come amid reports of stampedes at several railway stations, huge crowding in several express trains and fires during the Chhath Puja festival.

The situation is such that many people are unable to get reserved tickets and many are forced to travel sitting on the floor of the train. In such a situation, Railways has said that to deal with the huge crowd, it is running 1,700 special trains and has created additional 26 lakh berths.