Cong attacks Modi over move to privatise Rlys

The Congress on Monday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of contradicting himself with his assertions that it was not in the government’s intention to privatise the Indian Railways.

The party accused the Modi government of “stealthily” opening up the Railways for private investment while making contrary statements to the public.

“Barring the driver and the guard, the Modi government has opened up everything for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI),” AICC spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi quipped.

The Congress charged Modi with taking “numerous U-turns”on privatisation of railways. Singhvi referred to the prime minister’s remarks favouring privatisation of railways last year during his tenure as Gujarat chief minister.

He recalled that Modi had reiterated his belief in privatisation of railways at a function in Guwahati on November 29.

Singhvi expressed surprise over Modi’s statement of December 25 ruling out privatisation of the Railways.

“Neither the BJP nor Modi mean what they say or say what they mean,” the Congress spokesperson said, attacking the prime minister for adopting a “casual approach” to policy making.

Infra investment

The Congress said the NDA government had already allowed 100 per cent FDI in Railway infrastructure, such as building high-speed train systems, sub-urban corridors, dedicated freight line projects, rolling stock, including coach  manufacturing and maintenance facilities, railway electrification and signalling systems.

“If the FDI is not private investment, then what is” Singhvi questioned.