Netas get a taste of aam aadmi misery, step off trains and trudge along tracks | India News – Times of India

MUMBAI: The city’s lifeblood, the local train, can be a great equaliser. MLA’s and ministers, like the common man, were hit hard by the downpour that disrupted train and intercity traffic on Monday.
Nearly 10-15 legislators from both Houses of the state legislature were stranded in trains for Kurla and Thane. Some had to walk tracks to reach Kurla station and arrive in time for the meeting in South Mumbai. Minister for Relief and Rehabilitation Anil Patil walked 2 km on rain-soaked paths.
The opposition criticized the net for walking on rails while common people are told not to, especially on rain-soaked rails. In a post on X, NCP (SP) Neta Clyde Crasto said, “Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav, RPF. Isn’t it illegal to walk on railway tracks and trespass? Whatever the circumstances, public representatives, like other citizens, are expected to obey the law and set an example. What action do you suggest after watching this video?”
Minister Anil Patil said that it was his first experience of crossing tracks in rainwater. He said that he had told the railway authorities not to allow passenger trains to stop between stations. “I have learnt that passenger trains should not stop between stations,” Patil said. “When trains stop between stations, people get down and walk… There is a chance of them falling into a drain.”
Videos of legislators running at high speed on the tracks, with their PAs dragging their bags, went viral on social media. Bodyguards were also seen. Most of the MLAs were on their way to Mumbai from Vidarbha and Marathwada. He said he was stranded between Dadar and Kurla stations and 10 other MLAs were keeping him company. “This is a different experience… The common man has been hit by the rains,” he said in the video.
NCP minister Hasan Mushriff (Ajit Pawar) got down from the Mahalaxmi Express at Kalyan and took an auto to reach Vidhan Bhavan. Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Gaikwad said, “We were told that there is huge traffic jam. So some MLAs stayed in the train and some walked.”