Indian Railways already heading for privatization: Congress

Terming as bluff Prime Minister Narendra Modi's assertion that Indian Railways will not be privatized, the Congress Monday said it is already headed for it in view of the cabinet's green signal to 100 percent FDI in railways.

"The government is privatizing Indian Railways by stealth, by no transparency. Without calling it privatization, it is privatizing every aspect of the railways. Only the driver that runs the engine will be remain a government servant. But rest is all privatized," party spokesman Abhishek Manu Singhvi told media persons here.

Terming it yet another "somersault", he said the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government's actions at present are not in sync with the promises its leaders made on the campaign trail in the run-up to the general elections and soon after taking power.

Singhvi said Modi's strong pitch for privatization in railways in March 2013 contradicts his statement made in Varanasi this month that ruled out its privatization.

"The government's stand on Indian Railways is another addition to its list of U-turns as there is contradiction between what Modi said in his campaign, what he said after coming into power, and what he is saying at present," he said.