Viral Video: July 2024 has been particularly turbulent in the life of India, with heavy rains and a spate of train mishaps. Notably, incidents like the derailment of the Howrah-Mumbai train in Jharkhand and the Chandigarh-Dibrugarh Express in Gonda, Uttar Pradesh, on July 18 have been central to the month’s grim narrative. These mishaps have not only consumed massive loss of life but have also brought rail administration under severe criticism all across.
Ashwini Vaishnaw Faces Social Media Backlash
It is Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw who has been at the centre of this storm. After the tragedies, the minister has been at the receiving end of massive trolling on social media through which he has mockingly been dubbed the “reel minister.” That term essentially refers to the charges that Vaishnaw gives more attention to making promotional reels related to the Vande Bharat trains rather than focusing on the more serious issues related to train safety and failures in operations.
A video has now surfaced on social media of Ashwini Vaishnaw making a defiant speech in the Lok Sabha amid allegations. That immensely shared video from the official X handle of ‘Lutyens Media’ captured Vaishnaw’s frustration while he tried to defend his role and actions. Speaking in one of his addresses, Vaishnaw has gone on record to say, “We are not reel makers but people dedicated to the development of the country.” His statements were a reaction to criticism that he was dwelling on the wrong issues.
July’s Surge in Train Accidents
The month of July has been particularly bad in terms of train accidents, with more than half a dozen derailments reported across states—from West Bengal to Uttar Pradesh. These include both passenger and goods trains, adding to the public misgivings over railway safety and management. The mounting toll of death and frequent accidents are building pressure on the Railways Ministry and its leadership.
The kind of criticism currently being hurled at Ashwini Vaishnaw speaks to broader frustrations with railway safety and crisis management. As much as Indian Railways is moving on these issues, so is the case of clash between perception on social media and governmental responses, which goes on to underline the intricate balance between public accountability and political communication in crisis time.