Forget bullet trains, fix railways: Raj Thackeray tells Centre

MNS chief Raj Thackeray on Saturday threatened the BJP Government during a press briefing by stating that he will not allow a single brick of the bullet train to be placed on the current infrastructure in the city has been improved.

“Until present infrastructure of local railways is made better, not a single brick of the bullet train will be allowed in Mumbai.”

He added, “PM Modi can get bullet train in Gujarat but I will not allow them to keep a single brick for bullet train project in Mumbai.” He also lashed out at the Government by saying that ‘politicians only come on the spot just to fetch news attention.’

Taking a jibe at the Government he said, “Did it rain for the first time in Mumbai? How can they blame it on the rain, as it never rained in Mumbai before?”

Recently, Elphinstone railway station, where the incident took place was renamed into Prabhadevi railway station. Commenting on this change, the MNS Chief said, “these politicians are active in changing names. Have they done anything about the facilities?”

He further stated that he will be organising a rally on October 5 and will lead the rally to Churchgate station.

In an all guns blazing press briefing, the MNS Chief reiterated his previous ideology of how locals in Mumbai are suffering because of outsiders. He said, ‘I have always been saying that unless and until people from other states don't stop coming here (to Mumbai), these incidents will not stop.’ He further said that ‘thousands of people’ come to Mumbai, but Mumbai city does not have the facilities and infrastructure to accommodate such large population.

Republic TV Contributor Dr Manisha Priyam said, “I think the first think Raj should do is inspect all foot overbridges and tell us which are the ones that need repair. Let RT lead a movement.”

While the authorities continue to probe the cause of the accident, locals claim that the accident was a disaster which was waiting to happen and blamed the authorities for sheer mismanagement. Over 20 people died in a stampede at Mumbai’s Elphinstone Road station on Friday.