'It Hurts Common Man': BSP Chief Mayawati Slams Rail Fare Hike

Lucknow: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati strongly condemned the rail fare hike introduced by the Modi government, calling it a move that prioritizes commercial interests over constitutional welfare obligations. Addressing media on Tuesday, she said the fare increase would severely impact the poor and working class citizens who are already reeling from unemployment, rising prices, and stagnant incomes.

The Centre has increased non-AC fares by 1 paisa per kilometre and AC fares by 2 paise, effective July 1. Mayawati termed the hike exploitative, comparing it to the GST regime, and alleged that the BJP government is again using essential public services to burden the common man.

“In a time when millions are starving and struggling for daily survival, the rail fare hike is a cruel blow,” she said. “The BJP’s decision reflects a profit-first mentality, not a people-first policy.”

The BSP chief emphasized that for over 95 crore Indians, rail travel is not a luxury but a necessity for livelihood, often involving hardship and migration. “This is not about convenience; this is survival,” she asserted.

Mayawati also hit out at the BJP government in Delhi, accusing it of evicting slum dwellers from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Bengal with “brutal insensitivity,” without offering them any alternative housing. She described the demolition of poor settlements in Delhi as “inhuman and disgraceful,” while dismissing the local government’s claim that it was following court orders.

Calling for an immediate rollback of the fare hike, Mayawati warned that governance that neglects the vulnerable in favor of the elite undermines the essence of democracy. She urged the government to adopt a welfare-oriented approach instead of pushing policies that deepen inequality.