Miss No strikes again.

In the morning we were told that Mr Dinesh Trivedi has resigned as Railways Minister but now we are told that he has denied the report. The Prime Minister has denied receiving his resignation letter but Mr Trivedi has said that he will resign as soon as he is asked either by the Prime Minister or the leader of his party, the dreaded Ms Mamata Banerjee who says " No " to every proposal. Predictably Ms Banerjee has said," We won't accept this. We won't let it happen." Mr Trivedi says that he did not tell Ms Banerjee that he was going to increase passenger fares and said, " This is in the interest of the Indian Railways and the country." Which means that Ms Banerjee is against the interests of both the railways and the country. She has asked the Prime Minister to replace Mr Trivedi with Mr Mukul Roy who is also of her party. Some say that this is all rehearsed. First Mr Trivedi increases fares across all segments. Then he is replaced by Mr Mukul Roy who cancels fare increases for the cattle classes, that is local trains, non AC second class and 3 tier sleeper class, leaving passengers travelling in AC classes to pay higher fares. That makes Ms Banerjee and instant hero or heroine depending on your point of view. In an instant she becomes a bleeding heart for the poor, who will pay not a paisa more for the privilege of travelling in dirty, stinking compartments without toilets, in boiling heat, while she will be hailed as a reformer for bravely tackling the sinking railway finances. We remember that Mr Trivedi never wanted to come to Delhi so this allows him to go back to his state where he will no doubt be given a cushy ministerial post. These increases in fares were cosmetic as they would do nothing to save the railways from bankruptcy because Mr Trivedi has also announced increasing staff levels by 200,000. More than 50% of expenses incurred by Indian Railways goes in paying salaries of 1.4 million employees and pensions to 1.2 million. TOI, March 15. Experts have advised reducing employee numbers by 500,000. The Kakodkar committee estimated that the Railways need Rs 1 trillion for modernisation while the Pitroda committee said it would need Rs 5.6 trillion. Indian Railways needs new tracks, new rolling stock and better stations. If they are asked the naked poor will surely want to travel safely and in comfort. The aam aadmi desperately wants to become khas but our politicians want them to stay naked and hungry. That way they can be bullied, exploited and bribed for votes. Nothing ever changes.