Won't allow bullet train in Mumbai till city's railway infra is fixed: Raj Thackeray

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray shakes hands with his well-wishers at his residence in Mumbai October 22, 2008, after being released from a jail earlier today. Protesters in northern and eastern India set alight trains, blocked roads and damaged the home of the head of a Tata Motors factory on Wednesday, in retaliation for attacks on migrants in western India. In Mumbai on Tuesday, regional politician Thackeray, head of the small but vocal MNS, was arrested on charges of rioting and provoking attacks on migrant workers. REUTERS/Stringer (INDIA) - GM1E4AM1RTR01

Stampedes will continue to occur in Mumbai till hordes of migrants keep pouring into the city, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray said here, a day after 22 people were killed in a crush at Elphinstone railway station.

He also warned that "not a single brick will be allowed to be placed for the bullet train in Mumbai" until the infrastructure of local railways was made better.

The MNS leader, who has in the past stoked controversies with his anti-migrant rhetoric, told reporters at his residence Krishna Kunj in Dadar, "There has been a collapse of infrastructure facilities due to the migrant influx from other regions."

Saying that he travelled in Mumbai suburban trains for two years while studying arts at the Sir J J College here, Thackeray said, "What you call the famed spirit of Mumbai which overcomes such tragedies is actually hopelessness in face of such calamities."

Yesterday, a stampede on a narrow foot overbridge at the Elphinstone railway station during the rush hour had led to deaths of at least 22 people and injuries to 30.

Thackeray said his party leader Bala Nandgaonkar had written to authorities for building a new bridge at the stampede spot but no action was taken on his suggestion and instead Nandgaonkar was told to approach the MMRDA.

The Kakodkar committee had proposed an expenditure of Rs one lakh crore to improve the railway infrastructure but nobody acted on it, he claimed.

Instead, the bullet train project, costing the same amount, is being implemented, he said.

"Does one need bullet train or improvement of basic rail infrastructure," he said.

Thackeray also targeted BJP MP Kirit Somaiya for his silence on the "crumbling" rail services.

"When Congress was in power, this man used to go about measuring the height of platforms. Where is he now when such tragedies are happening in the BJP-led regime," the MNS chief alleged.

He claimed he did not visit the stampede spot or the hospital yesterday as "politicians are there at such spots only for television cameras".

"They (Railway) say the stampede happened due to rains. It is not the first time that it rained in Mumbai," he said.

"A list of issues related to Mumbai locals will be given to railway officials on October 5 with a deadline. If things don't get better, we will see," he said.

He said a deadline would also be given to throw out illegal hawkers from station bridges and if it is not complied with then the party would act on its own, he said.