Nothing for state in Rail Budget: CM

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 25

The state government has reacted angrily to the neglect of Uttarakhand in the Union Railway Budget 2016-17.

Chief Minister Harish Rawat termed the Railway Budget as hopeless. He said the state had been completely ignored and Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu had left the key rail projects in the state in the lurch.

State Congress president Kishore Upadhyay described the Railway Budget as anti-development. He said budget provisions would increase inflation in the country. Upadhyay said despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s repeated statements to ensure a better rail connectivity to the Char Dham shrines in Uttarakhand, the state was completely ignored.

He said it was unfortunate that the Central Government completely ignored Uttarakhand when the state was in a dire need of a good railway infrastructure.

Surendra Kumar, media adviser to the Chief Minister, sought resignations of all five MPs for the state’s neglect. He said the BJP had won all five parliamentary constituencies in the state but it MPs failed to convince the Railway Minister.

He said Chief Minister Harish Rawat had met the Union Railway Minister and apprised him about the need for expansion of the network in the state. “But it seems the BJP MPs failed to convince the Union Railway Minister in this regard,” Surendra added.

The BJP, on the other hand, termed the Railway Budget as development-oriented. BJP national executive member Satpal Maharaj said the Railway Minister had done a commendable work by ensuring that the speed of local and goods trains was increased. He said 33 per cent quota for women in reservation was also a welcome step.

NDA govt biased against Cong-ruled states: Harish Rawat

Haridwar: Chief Minister Harish Rawat termed the Union Railway Budget as disappointing. Rawat was addressing a gathering during a Sant Ravidas jayanti function at Jwalapur on Thursday. He said the BJP-led NDA Government had completely ignored the state.

“We had high hopes from the Railway Budget but there was not even a single mention of the previous sanctioned projects by the Congress-led UPA government. Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu had assured me of giving priority to the state, but he failed to live up to his promises. The Centre seems to be biased against the states ruled by the Congress,” he said.

On the quarrying issue, the Chief Minister said, if needed, he would impose a total ban on stone crushers in the district.

“It is for the people of Haridwar to decide whether they want quarrying or not. I have not given any quarrying permit to anyone. All these allegations are baseless,” he added.