Concessions an ‘eyewash’, says BJP

“Though the Congress members kept sitting in the House, they too were very disappointed with the budget and wanted to raise their voice against it,” he said, adding that the uproar in Lok Sabha as the Railway Minister presented the budget was unparalleled.

Calling the reduction in fares an “eyewash”, Malhotra claimed that the expenses for the passengers would go up through increase in the charges for food, reservation, cancellation and other amenities. “People are being cheated. Passenger trains are being redesignated as superfast trains. The coaches would remain the same, but the fares would go up,” he said. “This is jaadu-tona (black magic trick). People will have to pay more now. Never before has so much burden been put on the people,” Malhotra said.