Modiji, forget bullet-train: BJP leader slams Modi after upsetting journey
What's the story
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was told by a leader of the BJP to forget about the bullet train, his pet project, and focus on improving the conditions of existing trains. These harsh words were spoken by Laxmi Kanta Chawla, a BJP leader from Amritsar after she was stuck on the Saryu-Yamuna train. She shot a video from the train and it has gone viral.
Series of events
The train was running late, prompting Chawla to make video
Chawla, who is a former minister of Punjab government and has held portfolios of health and social wealth, boarded the train on December 22. The train was running late by 10 hours and passengers were upset, for obvious reasons. "This train was once known as the Flying mail. I don't remember when it used to fly to its destination," she said in the video.
Woes
Broken doors and toilets: Chawla shed light on train's condition
In the video, she spoke about the worrisome condition of the train. "The trains are in such a dilapidated condition, the doors are broken, the latrine taps are broken, the toilet seats are broken," she said. Chawla added people weren't informed about the train's diversion. Moreover, there was no food arrangement for passengers stuck for hours and this added to their woes, explained Chawla.
Quote
For God's sake, forget bullet trains: Chawla tells PM Modi
"For God's sake, forget bullet trains. Forget trains that run at 120 kmph or 200 kmph. Fix those trains that are already there. There is no waiting room and people are sleeping in the open in such biting cold - Piyush Goyal ji and Modi ji," she said.
Acche din?
The common man has certainly not seen 'acche din': Chawla
Chawla added all the helplines advertised by the railways were useless. She had called all of them but no help arrived. "The Shatabdi and Rajdhani are for the wealthy. What about this train, used by poor, the laborers, the soldiers," she questioned. She went on, "Modi ji, people are upset. I don't know who has seen acche din, certainly not the common man."
Twitter Post
Watch: Chawla has many things to say to PM Modi
Here is part 2 of the video BJP leader @laxmi_chawla made aboard the Saryu-Yamuna train while on her way from Amritsar to Ayodhya.
— Chitleen K Sethi (@ChitleenKSethi) December 24, 2018
" It would be better if you travel in these trains like a common man @PiyushGoyal ji, " she says. pic.twitter.com/EXOc6TkAjh