The Congress on Friday described the pre-Budget hike in rail fare as the biggest ever one-time increase in passenger rates since Independence.
Joining other political parties in condemning the hike, Congress spokesman Ajay Maken said: “Not even 30 days have passed since this government took charge, and Modi sarkar ke achche din aa gaye hain [Modi government’s good days are here].”
“It is historically the biggest hike in passenger fare at one go,” Mr. Maken said. He also questioned the increase in fare at a time when the country was facing a weak monsoon and the possibility of a hike in oil prices owing to the crisis in Iraq. “The increase in freight charges will have a cascading effect on essential commodities transported by rail.”
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The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) condemned the “unprecedented” hike. “This is a cruel blow to the working people who have been victims of relentless price hikes in the years of Congress misrule.”
Demanding a rollback, CPI national secretary D. Raja said: “Within a month, the Modi government has started showing its true colours.” The All India Forward Bloc described the hike as unjustifiable.