Rahul Gandhi flags 'breakdown' of rail system, asks people to raise voice on his new online platform
New Delhi, Oct 29: Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday slammed the government over the alleged breakdown of the railway system in meeting the needs of passengers.
He also urged people to raise their voice and share suggestions for improvement on a new platform launched by him -- Awaaz Bharat Ki.
Gandhi said crores of Indians would travel by train this Diwali to visit their families.
He said in a post on X, "Whether it is a daily commuter or a tourist, urban or rural, labourer or industrialist -- railways are a major part or pillar of every Indian's life."
"If our trains stop, India will come to a standstill. India needs a better rail facility for all. But today, from Balasore to Bandra, our railway system is breaking down and unable to meet the needs of passengers," Gandhi alleged.
At this time, when people need to be heard, there is no one to listen to them, the former Congress chief alleged.
"To build a better India, I urge all of you to raise your voice. If you see any shortcomings in the railway system, or have any suggestions for improvement, please share your experience with us: bit.ly/awaazbharatki," Gandhi said.
"Let us together build the India of our dreams," he added.
Gandhi tagged a post by the Congress on hardships being suffered by commuters while returning to their homes during the festival season.
Awaaz Bharat Ki is an initiative by Gandhi to provide a platform for the people of India to share their thoughts, suggestions and concerns directly with his office.
"We value every message, and we will attempt to respond to as many as possible. We encourage organisations representing large groups to reach out, as we aim to hear from diverse communities," the portal home page reads.
इस दिवाली पर करोड़ों भारतीय अपने परिवार से मिलने रेल से यात्रा करेंगे।
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) October 29, 2024
दैनिक यात्री हो या पर्यटक, शहरी हो या ग्रामीण, श्रमिक हो या उद्योगपति - रेलवे हर भारतीय की ज़िंदगी का एक बड़ा हिस्सा या आधार है।
अगर हमारी ट्रेनें रुक जाएं, तो भारत थम जाएगा।
भारत को ऐसी बेहतरीन रेल सुविधा… https://t.co/SL5aPvDj95
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
