Rail unions again appeal to PM,say don’t roll back

“We are expressing our deep sense of anguish for making the Railway Minister a scapegoat for… justified decision in the interest of the Railways and nation. Should our request fail to receive your sympathetic consideration,we would have no option except to resort to agitation,” M Raghavaiah,general secretary of the National Federation of Indian Railwaymen (NFIR),which is affiliated to Indian Trade Union Congress (INTUC),wrote.

The letter has been signed by heads of the other four federations,including the All Indian Railwaymen’s Federation (AIRF),the biggest with a membership strength of 1.2 million railway employees. The other groups are Federation of Railway Officers’ Association (FROA),All-India RPF Association (AIRPFA) and Indian Railway Promotee Officers’ Association (IRPOF).

“The whole country cannot be held ransom to the brinkmanship and whims of one political leader or party,” Raghavaiah told The Sunday Express.

The AIRF has decided to include the 800-900-odd passenger associations across the country in their demonstrations in case the government rolls back the fare hikes. The passenger associations include lakhs of daily commuters who use local trains.