Punjab CM terms Railway's decision to link goods train movement with passenger trains as 'illogical'
Nov 10, 2020
Chandigarh [India], November 9 : Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Monday dubbed the Railways' decision to link the movement of goods trains in the state with passenger trains as totally "irrational and illogical".
He also hit out at BJP alleging that the party was further fuelling the fire of anger among the farmers.
"There was absolutely no logic in linking the movement of goods and passenger trains, which the Railways was doing as a patent excuse to continue with the suspension of freight services. Passengers wanting to come to Punjab could easily travel by train to stations in nearby states, such as Ambala in Haryana and Chandigarh, from where they could go by roads to their destinations in Punjab in a matter of a few hours," he pointed out.
"This was not an option for freight movement, he said, adding that if the people of Punjab, including its farmers, continued to be deprived of their essential needs in this manner, the situation could aggravate," he said.
Rejecting outright the BJP state unit president Ashwani Sharma's allegation of `arm-twisting' the Centre, the Chief Minister said it was the BJP leadership that was inciting the farmers with its anti-Punjab stance on the issue.
"Instead of questioning the Railways and supporting the state government in persuading the Centre to allow freight trains to ply, the BJP leadership continued to indulge in dirty politics at the cost of the welfare of the people of Punjab and neighbouring states," he said.
"What's worse is that the BJP is not even concerned about our soldiers in Ladakh and Kashmir who are waiting desperately for critical supplies before the onset of snow, which would block them off completely from the rest of the country for the winter months," he added.
On Sharma's accusation that the state government had failed to dissuade protestors from blocking train services, the Chief Minister said that it was his government which had convinced the farmers to ease their blockade to let essential supplies come in.
"Even now, several of his cabinet colleagues were engaged with Kisan Unions to push for complete lifting of the blockade to allow even passenger movement, he said, adding it was in his government's interest to do so since it was responsible for the people of the state," he said.
