As the first phase of Bihar assembly elections begins, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav accuses the BJP and the Ministry of Railways of organising special trains to bring migrant workers back to Bihar to vote for the NDA. He called it a “double standard” by the Modi government ahead of polls
RJD leader and Leader of Opposition in Bihar Assembly Tejashwi Yadav addresses the media. (Pic/PTI)
As the first phase of the Bihar assembly elections kicks off on Thursday, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav, during the early hours of Thursday, raised serious allegations of voter buying and corruption. The allegations by the INDIA bloc’s CM candidate were made against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), alleging that the Ministry of Railways is organising special trains specifically for bringing in voters from across the country to vote for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, while slamming the National Democratic Alliance, said that "The Ministry of Railways is arranging special trains to send migrant workers from Bihar to Bihar to vote in favour of BJP, and return tickets are also being provided! This is the same Modi government that was cramming these migrant workers into trains to send them to Bihar during Chhath. At that time, no arrangements were made for the migrant Biharis," as cited by news agency ANI.
While taking a jibe at the ruling party for the handling of special trains during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020-21, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav has alleged that the party is showing its "double standards" while only looking for their own benefit.
Yadav further alleged that, "Even during the Corona period, Bihar's workers had walked thousands of kilometres to return to Bihar, but at that time, no special train arrangements were made for them! But now, when they somehow have to win the election, these people are showing their double standards for their own benefit!" as cited by news agency ANI.
While the Railway Ministry has not commented on the allegation of special trains being organised, multiple migrant voters have come back to the state to cast their vote for the Bihar assembly elections. The Bihar assembly elections are set to be on Thursday, November 6, and November 11.
With lakhs of migrant workers in Delhi, Haryana, Tamil Nadu and multiple other states looking for employment opportunities outside the state, the ruling party aims at bringing back those people back to Bihar for the elections, according to the RJD's Tejashwi Yadav.
News agency ANI has further reported that the Indian Railways has organised special trains to help people travel during the festive seasons of Chhath Puja and Diwali, with the Indian Railways announcing that from October 1 to November 30 more than 12,000 special trains are being operated across the country.
The release by the Indian Railways further stated that, “So far, a total of 11,865 trips (916 trains) have been notified, including 9,338 reserved and 2,203 unreserved trips. This marks a significant increase from last year, when 7,724 Puja and Diwali special trains were run, reflecting Indian Railways' continued commitment to ensuring smooth and convenient travel during the festive season,” as cited by ANI.
Meanwhile, today, as Bihar votes for the first phase of assembly elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the people of Bihar to participate in the festival of democracy with full enthusiasm to exercise their voting rights.
(With inputs from ANI)
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