Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut took a jibe at Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Sunday over the stampede at Bandra station here, saying he was too busy with the bullet train project while passengers in Mumbai were being ignored.

According to officials, nine individuals sustained injuries, two of whom are in critical condition, following a stampede while attempting to board a Gorakhpur-bound train at Bandra Terminus in Mumbai on Sunday morning.

Raut expressed concern over the lack of facilities for passengers in Mumbai, despite it being the highest revenue-generating city for the Union government.

He criticised the Railway Minister for being preoccupied with the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project and failing to address the poor infrastructure and problems faced by common railway passengers.

“The Railway Minister is too involved with the bullet train project and people are left to die because of the poor infrastructure as the railway minister is disconnected with their problems,” he claimed.

Raut noted that the bullet train project, which aims to reduce travel time between Mumbai and Ahmedabad, is currently under construction.

Although the Railway Minister is highly educated and associated with prestigious institutes like IITs, Raut stated that the minister has not resolved the issues faced by common railway passengers.

Furthermore, he emphasised the significant number of suburban passengers in Mumbai and the lack of steps taken by the Railway Minister to address their problems.

“Mumbai city not only gives maximum revenue but has the highest number of suburban passengers. However, the Railway Minister has not taken any steps to solve the problems,” the Rajya Sabha member charged.

Raut also slammed the NDA government over the occurrence of numerous railway accidents during its tenure, questioning the government’s response to these incidents and demanding accountability for passenger injuries, particularly the stampede at Bandra station.

“Since the third term of this new Union government has commenced, at least 25 major railway accidents have taken place,” he claimed.

“What solution did the government provide to address them?” Raut asked.

In a post on X, party leader Aaditya Thackeray said the incident at Bandra only reflects how incapable the current Railways Minister is.

“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. Such a shame that our country has been forced under such incapable ministers,” he said.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said peace can be established in West Bengal only when cross-border infiltration from Bangladesh stops.

Shah claimed that illegal immigration from the neighbouring country will be stopped if the BJP comes to power in West Bengal in 2026.

Addressing the inauguration of a new passenger terminal building and cargo gate at Petrapole land port along the India-Bangladesh border in Bengal, he slammed the Trinamool government over the issue of corruption and exhorted the people of the state to bring in political change in 2026.

“In establishing peace in the region, land ports play an important role. When there is no scope for the legal movement of people across the border, illegal modes of movement arise, which impacts the peace of the country. I urge the people of Bengal to bring in change in 2026, and we will stop infiltration, and peace will come,” he said.

“There can be peace in Bengal only when infiltration stops. Land ports play an important role in improving connectivity and relations between the two countries. They also enhance trade relations between the two nations,” he added.

Shah emphasised the positive outlook for the future, stating that the good days are not far away, and with the Assembly elections in 2026, the region will see favorable developments. He also questioned the allocation of funds for NREGA, comparing the amounts allocated during the UPA and NDA tenures, and raised concerns about whether the funds reach the intended beneficiaries or end up elsewhere.

Furthermore, Shah expressed assurance that the Land Port Authority will continue to develop and become a vibrant hub for the entire region, extending advance Diwali wishes to the citizens in the vicinity.

Highlighting the significance of the Petrapole Land Port, Shah underscored its role as the largest and busiest land port in South Asia. He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the growth of trade handled by the port, indicating a 64% increase from 2016-17 to 2023-24, reaching Rs 30,500 crore.

“70% of the trade between India and Bangladesh via land route is handled by this Petrapole Land Port Authority,” he said.

The Union Home Minister commended the role of the Land Port Authority in advancing the vision of strong infrastructure in border areas proposed by PM Modi, serving as a comprehensive one-stop solution for immigration, customs, and border security.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday discussed the cyber crime of digital arrests, noting that it has affected all sections of society and urged people to adopt the mantra of stop, think, and take action when faced with such a scam.

During his Mann ki Baat broadcast, Modi highlighted the collaboration between probe agencies and states to address the issue, emphasizing the importance of awareness in protecting oneself from this crime.

He played a representative video demonstrating how criminals pose as probe agency officials to exploit people’s fear, gathering detailed information about potential victims.

Modi cautioned, “Beware of Digital Arrest frauds. No investigative agency will ever contact you by phone or video call for such an investigation.”

PM Modi gave three steps of digital security in his address, saying stop, think and take action.

He said: “As soon as you receive the call, wait, don’t panic, stay calm, don’t take any hasty steps, don’t give your personal information to anyone, and if possible take a screenshot and make a recording.”

“The second step is to think — No government agency threatens over the phone like this, nor does it interrogate over a video call, nor does it demand money like this. If you feel scared, then understand that something is wrong,” he said.

In the third step, PM Modi urged people to dial 1930 to connect with the national cyber helpline, inform the police about such crimes, and record conversations and take screenshots, given the frequency of such reported crimes.

In addition, during the broadcast, the Prime Minister commended the increasing impact of Indian talents in the animation industry, noting a surge of creative energy in India.

He emphasised that ‘Made in India’ and ‘Made by India’ are shining brightly in the world of animation. Furthermore, Modi highlighted the popularity of Indian animation characters like Chhota Bheem, Krishna, and Motu Patlu, stating that Indian content and creativity are being well-liked worldwide.

He underlined that India is on the path to revolutionising animation, with Indian games also gaining popularity.

Additionally, he mentioned the progress of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ in various sectors, highlighting that the country is now exporting its defense products to over 85 countries.