Lok Sabha sits till close to midnight to conclude debate on Railways

Lok Sabha sat till 11.58 pm on Thursday, 11 July to conclude a discussion on demands for grants for Railway Ministry, with Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prahl Joshi saying it is for first time in nearly 18 years that Lower House has sat for this long.

Railway Minister Piyush Goyal is likely to reply to debate on 12 July, following which demands for grants will be put to vote. Nearly 100 members participated in debate which began on Thursday afteron and concluded at 11.58 pm. “It is a record,” Joshi said.

During debate, Opposition accused Modi government of trying to sell off railways' assets inste of focusing on services, but BJP asserted that transport behemoth is breaking new ground everyday especially in areas of infrastructure and safety.

WATCH: Wayan MP Rahul Gandhi's First dress To 17th Lok Sabha Triggers Heated Face-off With Rajnath Singh

Congress, TMC and or parties tore into government as y opposed alleged attempts to "privatise" railways and claimed that NDA dispensation was "selling dreams" like 'bullet train' to people, which were "t feasible".

Countering opposition's allegations, BJP MP Sunil Kumar Singh said performance of railways is much better w than under Congress rule and national transporter was achieving new milestones.

Railway accidents have reduced by 73 per cent in five-year period of Modi government from 2014 to 2019, he ted

RE | BJP Issues Three-line Whip To Lok Sabha MPs For July 10, Tells m To Be Present In Parliament