Hackneyed, Anti-Poor, Says Opposition

Members of the ruling NDA coalition and the Opposition variously hailed and criticised the railway budget, without being too clear about the implications of the provisions. However, the Opposition was united in predicting the railway budget 2002-03 would hit the common man the most.

While Renuka Chowdhary of the Congress said the budget was "illusionary", she wondered if rationalisation of freight would facilitate farmers in taking their produce to consumers. "It is a beaten-track budget. It lacks vision and does not help in expanding the Railways," said Shivraj Patil, deputy leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha.

"It is the same hackneyed story," said Nilotpal Basu, CPI-M member of Parliament. He added the increase in tariff would have an impact on the prices of essential commodities. Raghuvansh Prasad Singh of the RJD said ordinary passengers would be hit by the budget. He wondered how the Railways expected to mop up the Rs 13,000 crore envisaged by them.

 

Congress leaders Girija Vyas, Ramesh Chennithala and Sona Ram Choudhary described the budget as "anti-poor and a disappointment." Vyas said though the government had declared 2002 as Tourism Year, there was nothing in the budget to attract tourists.

Most unions slammed the railway budget, saying it would hit the common man, especially commuting working people. The Intuc said the increase in second-class fares without improving amenities and the increase in freight for essential commodities like jaggery, fruit and fertilisers would hit the ordinary people and farmers alike. The union also said it was surprising that Shatabdi and Rajdhani fares had been left untouched, showing a bias in favour of the rich. The cut in capital expenditure would retard the development of the railway transport system, it said.

"Trade unions will decide on a combined action programme after scrutinising the general budget on 28 February," Intuc said. However, TDP leader Yerran Naidu described the rail budget as a "good exercise" since consultations had been held with chief ministers, members of Parliament and leaders of various political parties. He said passengers would be able to absorb the "marginal" increase in fares.