Congress leader Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on the government’s decision to install selfie booths with life-size cutouts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at railway stations. He questioned whether the public prioritized affordable rail travel or “picture-taking with the emperor’s statue.”
In a Hindi post on social media, Gandhi highlighted a series of recent fare increases across all classes of Indian Railways, including the removal of concessions for the elderly and platform ticket price hikes. He further criticized the government’s move towards privatization, asking, “Was this money squeezed from the public’s hard-earned income meant for a selfie stand?”
Gandhi posed a pointed question: “What do the people of India want? Cheap gas cylinders and easy rail travel? Or a picture with the ‘shahenshah’s statue’?” His use of the ironic title “shahenshah” (emperor) implies that the government prioritizes self-promotion over public well-being.
This attack follows earlier criticism from Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, who called the selfie booths a “brazen waste” of taxpayer funds. He revealed RTI information detailing the stations where these booths were installed, further fueling the controversy.
Gandhi’s criticism taps into public concerns about rising costs and inadequate infrastructure. By framing the issue as a choice between basic needs and government vanity projects, he aims to mobilize public opinion against the Modi administration.
