It is a matter to be asked that why does PM Modi not allow Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav to show the green signal? Of course, Vande Bharat Express is an ambitious scheme of the government, but the opposition has been accusing them of taking full credit for it. But is this the answer to the question?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday flagged off five trains of Vande Bharat Express from Bhopal. PM Modi inaugurates every train of Vande Bharat Express. Ever since the Vande Bharat Express started in 2019. Instead of the Railway Minister, Prime Minister Modi shows the green signal to these trains. The question is why?
The thing to ask is why does PM Modi not allow Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav to flag off? Of course, Vande Bharat Express is an ambitious scheme of the government, but the opposition has been accusing them of taking full credit for it. But is this the answer to the question?
A simple answer to this question can be that Modi is the Prime Minister and he himself can decide which programs he has to attend. The kind of priority PM Modi gives to these trains can be understood. In December last year, he had virtually flagged off the Vande Bharat train connecting Bengal’s Howrah to Jalpaiguri. This was the time when his mother Heeraba had passed away but still he gave the green signal without changing the schedule.
But his priority and commitment regarding Vande Bharat cannot be ignored. It cannot be denied that the railways’ earnings have decreased and accidents have increased and this is generally due to inadequate modernisation.
One of the main reasons for the rise in the personality of Narendra Modi in the country in the year 2013 has been his optimistic talk. Perhaps this is the reason why the government wants to cash in votes through Vande Bharat. The maximum speed of Vande Bharat train is 160 kilometers per hour. This is much higher than the speed (50 km per hour) of other passenger trains in the country.
But is there any political thought behind Vande Bharat? Sure is. Vande Bharat Express trains are not only made in India but its name has also been associated with the national spirit. If Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav single-handedly flags off Vande Bharat trains, then it may not get the attention of many people. When PM Modi himself joins it, surely a large population joins it. PM Modi wants to show that development, modernization and connectivity are not just buzzwords.
India is a country where elections are held every year. 2023 is even more important in this sense because Lok Sabha elections are going to be held in April-May next year and PM Modi will be in the fray for the third consecutive term. Assembly elections are to be held in Madhya Pradesh this year, so PM Modi will be in this election state. Similarly, he will also be on the tour of Rajasthan. Elections are also to be held in Rajasthan this year.
The government has plans to run 75 Vande Bharat trains by 2024. These trains connect all the states to each other by connecting the Northeast. There is also a plan to introduce the sleeper class model of Vande Bharat trains before the Lok Sabha elections next year. The government says that it is planning to travel to the popular pilgrimage centers of the country without any hassle.
But after 2024, maybe Vande Bharat will be such a legacy that PM Modi wants to leave behind after leaving. Will this kind of rail politics help?
This is not the first time that a special branding has been done to a train. For example, as Indira Gandhi’s railway minister, LN Mishra started the Jayanti Janata Express between Barauni in Bihar and Delhi. Madhubani painting was displayed in it. In AC coaches, bedrolls (carpet, sheet, pillow and towel) were available for one and a half rupees. Had to pay 50 paise extra for a blanket. Now this train is called Vaishali Express and it still runs between Barauli-Vaishali as a superfast train.
In 2006, the then railway minister Lalu Yadav started Garib Rath trains in an attempt to woo the poor. However, the purpose of this train probably could not be achieved very effectively. When Mamata Banerjee became the railway minister, she introduced high-speed Duronto trains, in which her paintings were displayed. Now it can be said to be related to the change of power in Bengal or not, but soon after that Mamta ended the 34 years of leftist rule in her home state of West Bengal.
Earlier, railway ministers like Ram Vilas Paswan, Mamta Banerjee and Nitish Kumar used to announce new trains in their budget speeches, but it did not have much impact in national level politics. Later in 2017, the Railway Budget was merged with the Union General Budget. And within two years Vande Bharat came out.
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