Several opposition leaders expressed their shock and grief over the recent train accident in Odisha and emphasized the importance of prioritizing passenger safety in the railway system. The Congress party stated that the incident highlights the need for safety to be the top priority in railway operations. They also mentioned that there are questions to be asked of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, but the immediate focus should be on rescue and relief efforts.
Former Railway Minister Lalu Prasad from the RJD party blamed negligence for the tragedy and accused the BJP-led government of destroying the railways. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge urged everyone to stay united during this difficult time and praised several state governments that have offered their support for rescue efforts in Odisha. He also called for an investigation into how and why this accident happened.
Kharge ended by saying that it is not the time to discuss accountability but to come together to support the central government and help those affected by the tragedy.
