"During Mamata's tenure...": Ashwini Vaishnaw hits back at Opposition over train accidents

Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw passionately defended his ministry during the Budget Session in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, countering opposition criticisms regarding recent train derailments. As opposition members expressed disapproval, Vaishnaw emphasized the dedication of his team with the statement, “Hum reel banane wale log nahi, mehnat karne wale log hai,” underscoring their hard work over mere showmanship.

Addressing loco pilot regulations, Vaishnaw stated, “The average working and rest times for loco pilots were established by a rule in 2005. Amendments in 2016 introduced additional facilities.” He highlighted significant improvements made for loco pilots, including air-conditioning in all 558 running rooms and over 7,000 loco cabs, contrasting these enhancements with the previous administration’s perceived inadequacies.

Vaishnaw criticized the opposition for their failure to implement critical safety measures during their tenure. “Those who are shouting here must explain why, during their 58 years in power, they failed to install even 1 km of Automatic Train Protection (ATP). Now they dare to question us,” he said. He pointed out that the opposition had praised safety advancements during Mamata Banerjee’s tenure as Railway Minister but now blamed the current government for an increase in accident rates.

Vaishnaw also accused the Congress party of spreading misinformation on social media. “Are they trying to create fear among the 2 crore people who travel by rail every day?” he questioned.

Reaffirming the government's commitment to improving railway infrastructure, Vaishnaw announced plans to produce 2,500 general coaches soon, with a total goal of 10,000 coaches.