West Bengal assembly passes resolution against railway fare hike

The West Bengal assembly on Monday adopted a resolution against the decision to hike railway fares and demanded its immediate withdrawal.

Moving the resolution, state Parliamentary Affairs minister Partha Chatterjee said, "This highest ever increase in rate is unexpected and unprecedented. This house strongly condemns the central government's decision and demands immediate withdrawal of this decision."

"The central government recently has created an unprecedented situation by increasing freight rates and passenger fares by 6.5% and 14.2% respectively. Due to this the prices of essential commodities will increase making the lives of crores of Indians miserable," the resolution stated.

The resolution was supported by Trinamool Congress MLA and Urban development Minister Firhad Hakim, Congress MLA Asit Mitra, Manoj Chakroborty, SUCI's Tarun Naskar and GJM's Harka Bhadur Chetri.

State opposition leader and CPI(M) MLA Surya Kanta Mishra too supported the resolution.

CPI(M) MLA Anisur Rehman moved two amendments, requesting inclusion of the words, 'Rail fare hike is undemocratic and unparliamentary'. The amendments were accepted.