Sena mocks Centre's promise of 'achche din'; criticises commuter rage over train services

Criticising authorities over handling of commuter rage and breakdown of suburban train services last week, the Shiv Sena today mocked the Centre's promise of 'achche din' and asked where are the good days assured to the people.

"It is true that there were protests (on Friday) and they had turned violent. But neither the police nor the authorities are willing to probe what led the people to turn violent," an editorial in Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' said.

"If similar incidents, that had taken place during the Congress rule, continue abated, who exactly is experiencing 'achche din' (days of good governance)?" it sought to know.

"Those (political parties) who thought that law should be taken into one's own hands when they were not in power, have their government now. If these protests were a result of people's frustration towards administration, we need to ensure it doesn't become a cause of law and order breakdown," the Sena, which is part of the ruling BJP-led alliance at the Centre and Maharashtra, said.

The breakdown of suburban rail services led to many people's work schedules going haywire and students appearing for exams had to bear the brunt of the failure on part of the railways, it said.

"Will anyone from the railways be arrested for this mishap. Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu launched the mobile ticket service. But if trains do not move after people buy their tickets, there will be anger among people," the editorial further said.

On Friday, Mumbai had come to a halt for over six hours when angry commuters staged a protest at Diva station over frequent train delays. The demonstration turned violent as agitators pelted stones and engaged in rioting and arson within and outside the station premises.

The trouble further compounded when motormen went on a flash strike after a motorman of a local train got injured in stone pelting by protesters, leaving thousands of people stranded.