Bullet Train Project Criticized By Shiv Sena, Calls It Modi’s “Expensive Dream”

September 14, 2017 16:56

(Image source from: India Today)

Bullet Train Project Criticized By Shiv Sena, Calls It Modi’s “Expensive Dream”:- The ruling NDA ally, Shiv Sena severely criticizing the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project dismissed it as Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “expensive dream” which will “loot the nation of Rs 108,000 crore”.

Moreover, it also said that the newly-appointed Railway Minister Mr. Piyush Goyal has been specifically brought in only for this project “as part of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party’s ‘policy of transparency’. Goyal is also the BJP treasurer.

The foundation stone of India’s first high-profile high-speed rail project was jointly laid in Ahmedabad on Thursday by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe.

“Japan will bring everything for the project – from nails to rails, manpower to technology and even cement-concrete”. The land and money will come from Gujarat and Maharashtra, and Tokyo will rake in all the profits. But, despite the loot and fraud, all are congratulating Modi’s pet project,” the Shiv Sena said in sharp edits in the party’s mouthpieces “Saamana” and “Dopahar Ka Saamana”.

The Sena also pointed out that due to lack of funds and improvement, Mumbai’s overburdened and unsafe suburban rail network was suffering and many incomplete rail projects languish in the State.

“However, bullet trains will now zip between Ahmedabad-Mumbai without anybody even asking for it.”

“Bullet Train is not India’s ordinary masses’ dream… It will cater only to the rich-and-wealthy classes for which Goyal has been specially chosen…, and to give something ‘new’ to the industrialists of Gujarat where elections are coming up shortly,” the Sena pointed out.

The Sena, recalling the mega projects in the past, said for that many developmental projects and PSUs, ranging from the Bhakra-Nangal Dam to the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, and many other schemes that helped the country progress in technology and science, the foundation was laid by first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.

“All those projects were needed by the country. Is the bullet train a project of national importance for which such a huge amount is being spent to cover the 508-km distance at 350-kmph speed?” the Sena demanded.

The Sena, raising guns on Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, said of the 508 km, 156 km and four stations will run through this State for which it would need to shell out at least Rs 30,000 crore, plus tackle the problems of rehabilitation of farmers and project-affected-persons.

“When we raised the issue of complete waiver of farmers’ loans, the CM had warned of ‘anarchy’ in the fund-starved State. Now, you (CM) are putting Rs 30,000-plus for the PM’s rich dream,” the Sena taunted. Although the BJP is touting the high-speed rail as Modi’s dream, the Sena reminded it was also Modi’s ambitious dream to bring back Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir into India, “after which the bullet train should run smoothly from New Delhi to PoK via Kashmir and Tibet”, it challenged.

“Now we hope and pray… the bullet train is not used to carry out a ‘plunder’ of Mumbai,” concluded the edit.