Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, during his visit to the United States, addressed the Indian diaspora in New York and criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the recent triple-train accident in Odisha. With a death toll of at least 275, the collision has been termed one of the worst railway tragedies in the country’s history. Gandhi accused the BJP-led government of deflecting blame onto the Congress party, highlighting their tendency to attribute current issues to events that occurred decades ago. He also drew comparisons between the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), suggesting that their approach was retrospective and focused on blaming the past.
Details of the Accident:
The train collision in Odisha involved the Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express, Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, and a goods train. Occurring on Friday evening, the accident resulted in a significant loss of lives and injuries. The incident has raised concerns about railway safety and has left the nation in mourning.
Gandhi’s Criticism:
During his address, Rahul Gandhi questioned the BJP’s response to the train accident and accused them of resorting to blame-shifting. He claimed that if asked about the cause of the accident, the BJP would likely point to something the Congress party supposedly did 50 years ago, rather than taking responsibility for the present situation. He characterized this response as a tendency to look backward, suggesting that the BJP and RSS consistently sought to blame the past rather than focusing on resolving current issues.
Historical Parallel:
In his remarks, Gandhi referred to a past train tragedy that occurred under a Congress government. He highlighted that, following that incident, the railway minister at the time stepped down from office as a moral responsibility. By drawing this parallel, Gandhi aimed to highlight the difference in approach between the two parties. He implied that the current Railway Minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw, should also resign following the recent tragic accident in Odisha, aligning his demand with the moral responsibility demonstrated in the past.
Demand for Resignation:
Rahul Gandhi’s call for Ashwini Vaishnaw’s resignation stems from the severity of the train collision and the need for accountability. The demand for resignation is based on the belief that the minister in charge of the railways should bear responsibility for the safety of passengers and the overall functioning of the railway system.
Rahul Gandhi’s criticism of the BJP’s response to the Odisha train accident highlights the ongoing political discourse surrounding the incident. By drawing a historical parallel, Gandhi seeks to challenge the BJP’s tendency to deflect blame onto the Congress party. The demand for the railway minister’s resignation underscores the need for accountability and reinforces the expectation that those in positions of authority should take moral responsibility for incidents of this magnitude. As the investigations into the train collision continue, it remains to be seen how the government will respond to these criticisms and address the concerns surrounding railway safety.