Serving the constituency at Railways expense

RNI (Real News Intl.), Lucknow: Had it not been for Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) that busted the multi-crore tatkal ticket booking scam which was continuing since a long time right under the noses of railway officials who had managed to manipulate the computerized reservation system, the scam would have continued unnoticed by the railway authorities. The same is happening with another scam that RNI exposed a month back but keeping in view the high profile list of people who are involved in the crime, the railway authorities are still unwilling to act. In an exclusive revelation related to several State Ministers in Akhilesh Yadavs cabinet in UP, RNI had revealed in a story released on 31st May that these ministers had used the free travel coupons issued by Indian Railways for travel of their own self and dependent relations to plan excursion trips for their constituency workers and party workers. During the month that has elapsed, Railway officials from DRM (Northern Railways), ADRM (Northern Railways), SRDFMAccounts (Northern Railways), SRDCM-Commercial (Northern Railways) to senior officials in Railway Board and Union Ministry have been informed but none is willing to take action, possibly due to the crucial support that Samajwadi Party provides to NDA Government at the Center. In a release on 31st May, RNI had written: Now, whats the scam all about! Free railway coupons amounting to several thousand rupees are allotted to each minister. The minister, their family members (including spouse and dependent kids) can alone travel through these coupons. These free railway coupons expire on 31st of May each year and thereafter fresh coupons are issued for the next year. Since the coupons that are issued are of such high amount that it is not possible for a minister to avail all the free coupons, a lot many of them lapse at the year end. Politicians as they are, this gave ideas to some of the ministers, who decided to arrange free excursions on railways for their party workers, people from the constituency and near and dear ones. Week-long excursions to places like Chennai, Bangalore and Haridwar have been planned. Big lists of people interested in free travel have been prepared. Considering the great queues that were seen during the last few days at the railway booking counters (that accept these coupons) in Lucknow, it is apparent that several of the ministers decided to repay the people from their constituencies through these free rides on Indian Railways. Ultimately, it will be the Central Governments Indian Railways whose coffers will be utilized for these free tickets for SP workers. The news release also said: This is exactly what not one, not two, but several ministers in Akhilesh Yadavs cabinet in Uttar Pradesh have done this summer. And with their railway tickets already booked, the party workers, near and dear ones and people from the constituencies are getting set to travel to a location of their choice in the next couple of months. If you are really willing to call this modus operandi a scam, then the number of ministers who are involved in this scam may go up to a dozen, if not more. And the amount that the Central Government will have to pay from its coffers for free travel of people who worked or voted for Samajwadi Party would reach a few millions. As per information available with RNI, one such contingent is set to leave for Haridwar on 1st of July by Janata Express. Though it is not certain, considering the havoc that rains in the mountains have created, how many of the constituency workers who got their tickets booked in May would still be willing to go ahead with this free travel offer, the very fact that the tickets were

booked at Railways expense is enough to make it a criminal offence. Senior officials in Northern Railways too have been apprised through mail, but going but the past record it is highly unlikely that they would act. Real News Intl. News Bureau