AIDWA strongly condemns the totally unnecessary and arbitrary increase in rail fares by the UPA Government on Jan 13th, 2013, which will come into force from the midnight of Jan 21-22nd. The sharp increase in second class fares by 15-40%, and sleeper fares by 13-34% will further burden the ordinary people, who are already suffering from the steep increase in the prices of all other essential commodities. A large section of workers, especially women in the unorganized sector, who commute daily by suburban trains will be severely affected by the hike.
This unreasonable increase occurs just a few weeks before the annual rail budget, thereby exposing the callousness of the Government towards maintaining democratic norms of decision-making.
This additional assault on the people must be pushed back. AIDWA calls for widespread protests demanding a roll-back in the fares for all the classes used by the common people, and urges all its units to participate in the demonstrations against the increase in rail fares.
