Modi writes to PM, protests railway freight hike

Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi today wrote another letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, protesting 20 per cent hike in rail freight rates.

In the last two weeks, Modi has written four letters to the PM, opposing various central policies/decisions.

In today's letter, Modi said that the decision to increase railway fright rate, which the Centre took by 'bypassing the Parliament', should be withdrawn.

"When the Parliament is going to meet in few days and almost a week is left to the railway budget, the Centre has taken this step, by-passing the Parliament, which is anti-poor and anti-farmer.

"Were you just waiting for completion of elections of five states to implement this decision, which will impact the lives of people all over the nation?" said the letter.

"This decision will impact people all over India as it would fuel inflation because railway is used for ferrying of coal, fertiliser, food grains and other essential items," Modi said.

"People of this country are suffering as your government is not taking any steps to control price rise, and on top of that this increase in railway fright will bring additional burden."