The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : “Railway Minister should not have discarded convention”

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Feb 16, 2009
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

“Railway Minister should not have discarded convention”

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: The Railway Minister should not have discarded convention by announcing proposals for new schemes in the interim Railway budget, according to former Member of Parliament Era Sezhiyan.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Mr. Sezhiyan said that the sole purpose of the interim budget should be to get a vote on accounts to provide funds for the government for continuance at the existing basis of revenue and expenditure.

Any changes should be left to the next government, he said.

However, the interim Railway budget included proposals for new schemes including 14 new lines, 43 new trains and reduction of passenger fares in some trains and classes, he noted.

“The ruling party has every right to announce in its election manifesto any number of schemes and concessions, but it should not have discarded the time-long convention of keeping the procedure on Vote on Account free from detailed consideration,” he said.

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