Mon Mar 17 18:10:51 UTC 2025: ## Rail Ministry Criticized Amidst Opposition Walkout Over Election Concerns
**New Delhi** – The Indian Parliament’s Budget Session saw fierce criticism of the Railways Ministry from opposition parties, who accused the government of mismanagement and neglecting the public transport system. Congress MP Varsha Gaikwad denounced the rail budget as a “failure,” rejecting claims of record-breaking achievements. Trinamool Congress MP Shatabdi Roy further condemned the ministry, stating that compensation couldn’t rectify the tragic loss of life in recent rail accidents and criticized the imposition of cancellation charges as unduly burdensome on passengers. The opposition’s criticism centered on the alleged mismanagement of the railways, likening its current state to being “on a ventilator.” They argued that initiatives like creating Instagram reels are insufficient to address the fundamental problems plaguing the system.
Separately, the Congress and Trinamool Congress staged a walkout from the Rajya Sabha after their request for a debate on the Election Commission’s alleged issuance of duplicate voter ID cards and concerns regarding delimitation were rejected. This highlights growing opposition discontent over electoral processes alongside concerns about the functioning of the Railways Ministry.
First Piper 