Trinamool demands fare hike rollback

The Trinamool Congress Wednesday opposed the rail fare hike announced Wednesday by Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi, who is from the same party, and sought a rollback.

“We oppose the rail fare hike. We want the government to roll it back. It is not in the interest of the common man,” Minister of State for Health Sudip Bandyopadhyay told NDTV.

Trinamool leader and Rajya Sabha MP Derek o’Brien tweeted that his party has issues over the railway budget.

“What was all that about increasing fares across the board? Upper class… maybe ok… but all? Sorry, cannot agree,” tweeted Derek.

Asked if he disagrees with the union minister, Derek replied: “Yes, our party has issues on content.”

Minister of State for Tourism Sultan Ahmed said: “As Sudip Bandopadhyay has already said, we will go by the party line.”

The fare increases are the first in almost a decade.