NEW DELHI, October 25: In a scathing attack on the Narendra Modi-led NDA government, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Saturday accused the Centre of neglecting the plight of millions of migrants and travellers, describing overcrowded trains to Bihar as “living proof of the NDA’s deceitful policies and false promises.”
Gandhi said that as India celebrates the festive season, marked by Diwali, Bhai Dooj, and Chhath Puja, people in Bihar are enduring unimaginable hardships simply to return home. “In Bihar, these festivals are not just about faith; they represent the emotional bond with one’s roots, the fragrance of the soil, the affection of family, and the warmth of the village,” Gandhi wrote in Hindi on X.
The Congress leader lamented that this yearning to return home has now turned into an ordeal for the common people. “Trains to Bihar are packed beyond capacity. Tickets are impossible to get, and journeys have become inhuman. Many trains are running at over 200% capacity, with people clinging to doors and sitting on rooftops,” he alleged.
Gandhi accused the NDA government of paying lip service to the cause of migrant workers while ignoring their daily struggles. “This so-called double-engine government keeps boasting about development and infrastructure, yet fails to provide safe and dignified travel to its citizens. Their tall claims about 12,000 special trains are hollow. Every year, the same chaos unfolds, but nothing changes,” he said.
The Congress leader questioned the government’s sincerity, asking, “Why are there no concrete solutions? Why must people of Bihar be forced to return home in such deplorable conditions every year? If employment and dignity existed within the state, they wouldn’t have to wander thousands of kilometers for survival.”
In a pointed remark, Gandhi said, “These are not just helpless travellers; they are the living testimony of the NDA’s deceitful governance, proof that its policies serve slogans, not citizens.”
He further asserted that “safe, affordable, and respectful travel is not a privilege, it is a right of every Indian citizen.” Gandhi added that the Modi government’s repeated failure to ensure basic transport dignity exposes the gap between its grand announcements and ground realities.
To drive home his point, the Congress leader shared a video montage juxtaposing visuals of overcrowded platforms and jam-packed train compartments with clips of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ceremonially flagging off new trains, suggesting a stark contrast between optics and reality.