Aaditya Thackeray slams 'reel minister' Ashwini Vaishnaw over Bandra stampede

While slamming the Railways Minister over the stampede incident, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray questioned the minister's ability to manage railway safety. 

In Short

• Shiv Sena criticises Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for mismanagement
• Aaditya Thackeray calls Ashwini Vaishnaw 'incapable' minister
• Nine injured in Bandra terminal stampede

Hours after a stampede at Mumbai's Bandra terminal left at least nine people injured, with two in critical condition, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena lambasted Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and said that it was shameful that the "country has been forced under such incapable ministers."

While slamming the Railways Minister over the stampede incident, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray questioned the minister’s ability to manage railway safety.

"Wish the reel minister was a rail minister for once. The incident at Bandra only reflects how incapable the current Railways Minister is. The BJP has made Ashwini Vaishnav ji a Prabhari for BJP Maharashtra for elections, but every week there are some incidents and accidents that occur with the railways. It is such a shame that our country has been forced under such incapable ministers," he said.

The opposition leaders use the term “reel minister” to criticize the Railways Minister over the derailments and train accidents. Responding to the attacks, the minister defended his work in the Lok Sabha this August, saying, “We’re not just people who make reels; we’re people who work hard.”

With the Maharashtra Assembly election less than a month away, the BJP has appointed Vaishnaw, a former bureaucrat, to lead the party's campaign.

Taking a jibe at the Railway Minister, Sharad Pawar-led NCP leader Clyde Crasto said, "The stampede at Bandra Terminus is very disturbing... This shows the failure of the Railways Ministry, Ashwini Vaishnaw. Lack of enough trains during the festive season and also a failure of the local administration have led to this mishap."

The stampede incident at the Bandra terminal, according to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), was caused by the festive rush ahead of Diwali.

Western Railway's Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO), Vineet Abhishek, said that the incident took place when two passengers tried to board the Bandra-Gorakpur Antyodaya Express.

"Around 2:30 am, the train was brought to the platform from the yard. As the train was about to arrive at the platform, two passengers tried to board the train. They both suffered injuries. Following this, the railway authorities immediately got the ambulance and shifted the injured passengers to Bhabha Hospital," he said.