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In her time, fares rose frequently: Sanjay Nishad hits back at Mayawati over rail tariff hike remarks
In her time, fares rose frequently: Sanjay Nishad hits back at Mayawati over rail tariff hike remarks

Hans India

time17 hours ago

  • Politics
  • Hans India

In her time, fares rose frequently: Sanjay Nishad hits back at Mayawati over rail tariff hike remarks

Uttar Pradesh Minister Sanjay Nishad on Wednesday hit back at Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) President Mayawati for her criticism of the recent hike in railway passenger fares, stating that tariff increases were far more frequent during her government. Mayawati had earlier slammed the Centre for the fare hike that came into effect on July 1, calling it 'against the general public interest' and demanding its immediate rollback. She termed it a 'business-minded decision' that ignored the welfare-oriented objective of the Constitution. Responding sharply, Minister Nishad said, 'In their time, fares increased frequently, every year from 2004 to 2024, with Mayawati Ji's support. My government did not increase fares for so long. So, as of now, to increase facilities, a fare has been increased after a long time.' While acknowledging that fare hikes should ideally be avoided, Nishad defended the move by pointing to the need for upgraded infrastructure, enhanced safety, and time efficiency. 'The government needs to provide better facilities and ensure safety. Security is important, time is valuable, and saving time is crucial. If we reduce time and assure safety, money is required,' he explained. The fare revision includes increased platform ticket prices and adjustments to certain passenger fare categories. The Ministry of Railways has clarified that the funds generated will be used to modernise railway stations, enhance passenger amenities, and boost overall safety systems. Mayawati, in her statement, argued that the decision would burden common people and accused the government of prioritising profit over public welfare. But Nishad countered that the current administration had held off on fare increases for years while steadily working to improve services. 'People value their time and safety. To deliver both, investment is necessary. The fare hike is a step towards a more efficient and secure railway system,' Nishad said.

It's anti-people: Mayawati on rail fare hike
It's anti-people: Mayawati on rail fare hike

Hindustan Times

timea day ago

  • Politics
  • Hindustan Times

It's anti-people: Mayawati on rail fare hike

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Tuesday slammed the Centre for the hike in railway passenger fare from July 1. Terming the decision of the railway ministry to increase the fares 'against the general public interest and more of a business-minded decision rather than the welfare objective of the Constitution', she demanded that the government should immediately withdraw the hike. BSP chief Mayawati. (HT file) Addressing a press conference in Lucknow, the BSP chief said, 'As it is known that when most of the people of the country are suffering and unhappy due to hunger, inflation, poverty, unemployment and decrease in income, the increase in the train fare in the country by the Centre in such a situation seems to be a decision taken against the general public interest.' Mayawati alleged that the practice of increasing the exploitation of the common man by increasing the burden on their daily life through railways just like GST in the name of 'Nation First' was extremely unfair. 'It would be better if the government reconsiders it immediately,' she said. 'For crores of people here, the train journey is not a fashion, pleasure or tourism, rather it is a very painful journey and compulsion due to the increasing poverty, inflation, acute shortage of respectable permanent employment in the country, compulsion to leave their homes and migrate to feed the family,' she claimed. The government should not adopt a commercial approach towards them but treat them with sympathy and welfare, she said and added this has been everyone's expectation. 'Therefore, instead of worrying only for its own benefit and for a handful of rich and prosperous people, the government should take proper care of the crores of people of the country who are yearning to live a life of self-respect,' Mayawati said. 'Around 95 crore people in the country have been forced to become beneficiaries of at least one social welfare scheme of the government. Due to this, the number of such helpless people has increased to about 64.3 per cent in the current year 2025, whereas in 2016 this number was only about 22 per cent,' the BSP chief alleged. Attacking the BJP government in Delhi, she alleged that it was adopting an anti-people attitude of ruthlessly displacing the poor and those who migrate from other states, especially from UP, Bihar and Bengal for livelihood, without making any other arrangements. 'Their slums are being demolished so ruthlessly that it is very sad and shameful,' she alleged, stressing that the Delhi government says it is following the court's order. But, the honourable court did not say that you should displace them without making any other arrangements. The court has definitely said you should remove them but the court did not say that you should not make any other arrangements for them, she said. 'It is the responsibility of the government to first make alternative arrangements to settle them before removing their slums,' Mayawati added.

Railway fare hike 'anti-people', against common man's interests: Mayawati
Railway fare hike 'anti-people', against common man's interests: Mayawati

Hans India

timea day ago

  • Politics
  • Hans India

Railway fare hike 'anti-people', against common man's interests: Mayawati

Lucknow: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) President and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on Tuesday strongly criticised the Central Government's decision to hike railway fares, terming it 'anti-people' and against the interests of the common man. In a statement, Mayawati said that a vast section of the country's population is already grappling with poverty, unemployment, rising inflation, and a steady decline in income. 'In such circumstances, the decision to increase railway fares appears to be driven by commercial considerations, rather than the welfare-oriented spirit enshrined in the Constitution,' she said. Drawing a parallel with the Goods and Services Tax (GST), she added, 'Just like GST, the burden of 'Nation First' is being unfairly shifted onto the shoulders of the common people through increased rail tariffs.' Mayawati urged the Central Government to reconsider the fare hike, highlighting that rail travel is not a luxury for millions of poor Indians, but a necessity for survival and employment. 'For migrant workers, rail travel is not tourism -- it is a compulsion. The government must view their plight with sympathy and sensitivity, not through a commercial lens,' she said. Citing data, the BSP chief claimed that around 95 crore people are now beneficiaries of one or more government schemes, representing 64.3 per cent of the population in 2025, up from 22 per cent in 2016. 'This is not a matter of celebration -- it is a warning signal. It indicates a serious decline in the country's economic self-reliance,' she warned. Mayawati also voiced her concern over policies being implemented in the name of controlling vehicular pollution, particularly in Delhi and other urban centres. She alleged that these measures were being used to harass the poor and middle-class segments of society. 'Rather than merely enforcing regulations, the government must formulate a systematic policy to safeguard the livelihood of crores dependent on the transport sector,' she said. Criticising the BJP-led Delhi government, Mayawati condemned the eviction of migrants from states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal without any rehabilitation plan. 'Such displacement without alternatives is not only anti-people, but also shameful,' she said, adding, 'The courts have not banned rehabilitation before eviction; it is the government's duty to act with compassion and responsibility.' Turning to the power crisis in Uttar Pradesh, Mayawati said that electricity shortages were severely affecting both small businesses and household consumers. She blamed privatisation policies for the failure to ensure adequate power supply and demanded immediate corrective measures. 'The persistent electricity crisis reflects the government's inability to meet the basic needs of the people,' she said.

Train fare hike is not consistent with BJP's 'Country First' ideology: Mayawati
Train fare hike is not consistent with BJP's 'Country First' ideology: Mayawati

United News of India

time2 days ago

  • Politics
  • United News of India

Train fare hike is not consistent with BJP's 'Country First' ideology: Mayawati

Lucknow, July 1 (UNI) Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati on Tuesday criticised the BJP government at the centre for hiking railway passenger fares. She also slammed the Centre for increasing the burden on the common man on the one hand yet claiming that they follow the ideology of 'country first'. She demanded that the government immediately withdraw the hike. In a press release here on Tuesday, Behenji said when the country men are facing poverty, unemployment and other issues then increasing the railway fare shows the central government's commercial bent of mind. She termed the step against the ineterst of the general public and the objectives of the Constitution. She explained that rail journey is not a luxury for most people but a necessity due to the compulsion to migrate in search of better economic opportunities. "Therefore, instead of worrying only for its own benefit and for a handful of rich people, the government should appropriately worry about the crores of people of the country who are craving to live a life of self-esteem in the absence of employment," she added. UNI MBD RKM

Scholarship delay hits 3,500 Dalit students in UP; Mayawati seeks CM Yogi's intervention
Scholarship delay hits 3,500 Dalit students in UP; Mayawati seeks CM Yogi's intervention

Time of India

time3 days ago

  • Politics
  • Time of India

Scholarship delay hits 3,500 Dalit students in UP; Mayawati seeks CM Yogi's intervention

LUCKNOW: Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati on Sunday raised questions over the "scholarship problems" faced by Dalit students in colleges affiliated to Raja Mahendra Pratap Singh University in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh. Claiming that uncertainty is looming large over the education of 3,500 Dalit students, she sought an immediate intervention of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath into the matter. Taking to social media platform X, Mayawati said the government's "failure" to timely disburse scholarships to thousands of SC/ST students of colleges across several districts affiliated with Raja Mahendra Pratap Singh University, Aligarh, has led to "widespread anxiety and anger among people". She claimed that, as per information received, despite repeated correspondence by the university and district administration, the "insensitivity and negligence" of the Social Welfare Department in Lucknow have led to a grave threat looming over the education of approximately 3,500 Dalit students. Asserting that the aforementioned university in Aligarh was established through the special efforts of Chief Minister Adityanath, Mayawati expressed hope that he will take a keen interest in its smooth functioning and urgently resolve this "serious issue". Notably, for the last several days, students of Raja Mahendra Singh University of Aligarh have been leading an agitation for scholarships to Dalits. The university's officials said they will soon find a solution to the issue. Reacting to the matter, Nagina MP Chandra Shekhar Azad said he was extremely distressed and angered by the "humiliation and discrimination" meted out to Scheduled Caste students. "The Scheduled Caste students were treated unfairly regarding the right to scholarship, and an attempt was also made to humiliate them," he claimed. "According to the students, when they approached the Vice Chancellor regarding the rejection of their scholarship forms, they were insulted based on their attire and social background. A student was told that you are a labourer's son; you should have been wearing slippers," Azad said. Slamming the officials for "inhumane" behaviour, Azad said it violates Articles 15 and 17 of the Indian Constitution. He urged the UP government and the university administration to conduct a high-level probe into the "rejected" scholarship forms of the Dalit students and an independent judicial investigation into "insults and threats" faced by the Dalit students. Nagina MP said he will raise the issue in Parliament and streets as well, claiming that it was not just a fight of students, but for the Constitution and social justice. Is your child ready for the careers of tomorrow? Enroll now and take advantage of our early bird offer! Spaces are limited.

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