Ashok Gehlot Calls Out PM Modi's Political Signal at Train Launch
Ashok Gehlot, the state's chief minister, criticised the prime minister for his assault on his political rivals on Wednesday while introducing a new train service in the election-bound state of Rajasthan, calling it "unfortunate".
Mr. Gehlot said that his remarks were made with the upcoming assembly and general elections in mind and argued that it was unfair to claim that the growth of the railroads began only in 2014, the year PM Modi entered office.
"Today, your address was delivered entirely with the assembly and parliamentary elections in 2023–24 in mind, and it took the shape of the Bharat Janata Party's electoral platform. Such remarks won't be tolerated by the state's and nation's citizens, in my opinion, the Rajasthan CM said
In a statement, he said it was "unfortunate" that the Prime Minister seemed to accuse all choices made during the terms of previous railway ministers of being swayed by political and unscrupulous motives.
Earlier in the day, when he launched the inaugural Vande Bharat train from Rajasthan, Prime Minister Modi said that past administrations had turned the railroads into a political battleground and that this has impeded the modernization of the system.
"It is our country's misfortune that an important system like the railways, which is such a big part of the lives of common people, was turned into an arena of politics," he remarked, adding that "things changed" after the BJP won the election in 2014.
During a function held at the Jaipur railway station, PM Modi unveiled the Vande Bharat Express train-which will connect Ajmer with Delhi Cantonment-via video conference. Mr. Gehlot was present during the event.
Before the Prime Minister addressed the crowd, Mr. Gehlot stated that the train was a "big gift" for Rajasthan.
Later, in response to the Prime Minister's political remarks at the government event, the Chief Minister said that the Modi administration had downplayed the significance of railroads by eliminating the distinct budget for them.
Modern trains like the Vande Bharat, according to Mr. Gehlot, are now feasible because of Manmohan Singh, the finance minister who oversaw India's economic opening in 1991 and was a forerunner to PM Modi.
"Technological advancements have taken place all over the world over time, as a result new technology has also come in India and there have been improvements in the railways," he added, citing past railway ministers like Lal Bahadur Shastri and Jagjivan Ram in his remarks.
The Vande Bharat, the first semi-high-speed train operating in Rajasthan, would shorten the distance between Ajmer and Delhi. It will begin its regular operation on Thursday and make stops in Jaipur, Alwar, and Gurugram.
