Opposition Slams ‘Incapable’ Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Over Bandra Stampede

Mumbai: Union Railways minister Ashwini Vaishnaw faced flak as the Opposition questioned his efficiency after nine persons were injured during a stampede at Mumbai’s Bandra railway station on Sunday.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray hit out at Vaishnaw’s, calling him an ‘incapable’ minister.

“Wish the reel minister was a rail minister for once. The incident at Bandra only reflects how incapable the current Railways Minister is. The BJP has made Ashwini Vaishnav ji, a prabhari for BJP Maharashtra for elections, but every week there are some incidents and accidents that occur with the railways. Such a shame that our country has been forced under such incapable ministers,” the former Maharashtra minister posted on X.

Senior Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut alleged that the minister is too preoccupied with projects like bullet train.

Speaking to reporters here, Raut said, “Mumbai city gives maximum revenue to the Union government. Compared to it, we hardly get any facilities here for passengers.”

“The railways minister is too involved with the bullet train project and people are left to die because of the poor infrastructure as he is disconnected with their problems,” Raut told mediapersons, referring to the under-construction Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project.

NCP (Sharad Pawar) leader Clyde Crasto also blamed Vaishnaw.

“The stampede at Bandra Terminus is very disturbing… This shows the failure of the Railways Ministry Ashwini Vaishnaw. Lack of enough trains during the festive season and also a failure of the local administration has led to this mishap,” Crasto said.

The stampede was the result of a mad rush of passengers looking to board the Gorakhpur-bound Antyodaya Express at Bandra railway station.