New Delhi: Mounting pressure on the government of India over the Odisha train tragedy that claimed 275 lives, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday wrote to Narendra Modi saying that roping of another agency without expertise shows that the government has no intent to address systematic safety malaise.
His remarks came a day after Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that the Railway Board has recommended for a CBI probe to probe the deadly accident that occurred on June 2 in Balasore district, PTI reported.
In his letter to Modi, the Congress leader said that all the empty safety claims of the Railway Minister have now been exposed and there is serious concern among the common passengers about this deterioration in safety.
Kharge said that the devastating train accident in Balasore has shocked the nation and the country stands united in this hour of grief; however, the loss of so many precious lives has shaken the conscience of every Indian.
“The loss of these lives is irreparable and no amount of monetary compensation or words of condolence can make up for this grave tragedy.
But I say with remorse that instead of focusing on strengthening the railways at the basic level only superficial touch up is being done to stay in news.
“Instead of making the railways more effective, more advanced, and more efficient, it is instead being meted out with step-motherly treatment,” Kharge said.
Over 280 people lost their lives and over 1,000 were injured in an accident involving the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, the Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express and a goods train on Friday evening.
