Chennai: Railway Minister Piyush Goyal yesterday slammed Congress Chief Rahul Gandhi for his remarks after the Train18 experienced trouble during its inaugural run last month.
Taking part in a grand ceremony to dedicate to the country a 1,000-megawatt (MW) thermal power project of Neyveli Tamil Nadu Power Ltd (NTPL) and a 150-MW solar power projects of NLC India Ltd in southern Tamilnadu, he said that some people disrespected Indian talent and wanted to continue imports from Italy. India would export trains made by its engineers to Italy, but won’t import anything from there, he assured.
“Some people tried to make fun of engineers of Integral Coach Factory in Chennai and try to show that our engineers had failed. I think they do not respect India, they do not respect Indian talent…They want us to continue everything from Italy,” he said, adding that he was proud of the engineers and would make India the greatest country in the world.
Last month, the Train 18 faced a hitch. It had left Varanasi Junction for Delhi after being flagged off and faced its first breakdown around 15 km from Tundla junction in Uttar Pradesh next day. Following this, Rahul had tweeted, “Modi ji, I think Make in India needs a serious rethink. Most people feel it has failed. I assure you we in the Congress are thinking very deeply about how it will be done.”
At yesterday’s event, all employees of NTPL were promised of Rs 8,000 and contract workers and Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel associated with coal-based power plant located in Tuticorin district would get Rs 3,000.
In a grand function held at Harbour Estate, Thoothukudi, the Minister of Railways and Coal yesterday dedicated the 1,000-mw Coal based Thermal Power Station of Neyveli Tamil Nadu Power Ltd (NTPL), which is a Joint Venture between NLC India Ltd. and TANGEDCO, and 150-mw Solar Power Projects of NLC India Ltd, situated at Ramanathapuram and Virudhanagar Districts.
CMD, NLCIL, Directors of NLCIL, Union and State Ministers, MPs and Senior officials of NLCIL, NTPL and TANGEDCO were also present at the event. The 2×500 mw coal-fired Thermal Power Project of NTPL is a Joint Venture between NLCIL & TANGEDCO with an equity participation of 89:11.