Mamata flays rail fare hike, terms it "anti-people"

Kolkata, Jan 10: West Bengal Chief Minister

on Jan 9 criticised the hike in rail fare terming it "anti-people" and questioned whether it was ethical for the government to do so before the

.

"Railway fares for all classes have been increased on an average by 20 per cent today. In the last budget, there was an increase of about 8 per cent in AC I and AC II," Banerjee said in a Facebook post.

"Today's decision of additional burden is anti-people. Budget is coming next month. Is it ethical to increase the fare before the budget? It is too much, we do not agree," the former Railway minister said.

"In the recent times, the UPA government has raised prices of many essential commodities, be it LPG, diesel, petrol, fertiliser," she said. "What else is left out?" Banerjee said.

PTI