Rahul Gandhi attacks Centre over no concession on rail tickets to elderly people

New Delhi: Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi slammed the BJP-led Centre on Friday for not granting rail ticket concessions to the elderly and alleged that while it can even reach for the stars for its "friends", it will make the common people yearn for every penny.

He also listed out the money spent by the government on advertisements, a new aeroplane and tax concession to "friends".

"Advertising expenses: Rs 911 crore. New plane: Rs 8,400 crore. Tax exemption for capitalist friends: Rs 1,45,000 crore per year. But the government does not have Rs 1,500 crore to give concessions in rail tickets to the elderly. Will even reach for the stars (tare tak tod kar layenge) for friends, but will make people yearn for every penny," Gandhi said in a tweet in Hindi.

विज्ञापनों का ख़र्च: ₹911 Cr

नया हवाई जहाज़: ₹8,400 Cr

पूंजीपति मित्रों के टैक्स में छूट: ₹1,45,000 Cr/साल

लेकिन सरकार के पास बुज़ुर्गों को रेल टिकट में छूट देने के लिए ₹1500 करोड़ नहीं हैं।

मित्रों के लिए तारे तक तोड़ कर लाएंगे, मगर जनता को कौड़ी-कौड़ी के लिए तरसाएंगे।

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 22, 2022

The government used to provide up to 50 per cent concessions to senior citizens in rail tickets but the facility has been suspended ever since the outbreak of COVID-19.