LUCKNOW, July 2 -- Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Tuesday slammed the Centre for the hike in railway passenger fare from July 1. Terming the decision of the railway ministry to increase the fares "against the general public interest and more of a business-minded decision rather than the welfare objective of the Constitution", she demanded that the government should immediately withdraw the hike.

Addressing a press conference in Lucknow, the BSP chief said, "As it is known that when most of the people of the country are suffering and unhappy due to hunger, inflation, poverty, unemployment and decrease in income, the increase in the train fare in the country by the Centre in such a situation seems to be a decision taken agains...