What a shame: Congress after ex-Japan minister blames India for bullet train delay
What a shame: Congress after ex-Japan minister blames India for bullet train delay
M.U.H
18/07/202622
The opposition on Thursday seized on remarks by a former Japanese minister associated with the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project, who blamed New Delhi for the inordinate delay in its completion, to attack Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Centre. Calling the situation a matter of shame, opposition leaders alleged that one of India's most significant infrastructure projects had been handled in a disgraceful manner, resulting in years of delay.
Congress leader Pawan Khera shared the remarks by Hideki Makihara, a former Japanese minister, on X and took a swipe at the Centre, saying, "Another feather in PM Modi and the Reel Minister's cap." He alleged that one of India's most important strategic infrastructure partnerships had been handled so poorly that the government's "incompetence" was now being criticised even by foreign officials.
Makihara, who was associated with India's bullet train project, also called the Shinkansen project, sparked a row after blaming the Indian side for delays in the landmark project, whose construction began in 2017.
In a post translated from Japanese, Makihara said that during international meetings and negotiations, "the sheer recklessness of the Indian side" stood out and alleged that commitments made during discussions were frequently not honoured.
"The Shinkansen project in India is something I was involved with myself. They just don't keep promises, no matter what. Even if they make a promise, they flip it right away," he wrote. He further claimed that the minister handling the project was "especially awful" and added that he felt "100 per cent that the reason this hasn't moved forward is entirely on the Indian side".
The remarks were made while referring to a report on the bullet train project, which claimed that Japan had been excluded from the signalling system, considered a critical component for railway safety. The criticism also comes just weeks after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi visited India and held a series of high-level talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which included advancing the bullet train project.
The comments were quickly picked up by Congress leader and party media and publicity department chairman Pawan Khera, who launched a sharp attack on the Centre.
"Another feather in PM Modi and the Reel Minister's cap," Khera wrote on X.
Referring to Makihara's remarks, the Congress leader said it was unfortunate that one of India's most significant strategic infrastructure partnerships was allegedly being criticised by a foreign official because of the government's handling of the project.
"A former Japanese minister who was personally involved in the India-Japan Shinkansen project has claimed that, despite Prime Minister Takaichi's visit, the project failed and that Japan was excluded from the signalling system, a component crucial to railway safety," Khera said.
He further cited Makihara's allegations that delays were caused by the Indian government and described the criticism as a reflection of the Centre's "incompetence".
The Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail corridor, India's first bullet train project, is being developed with Japanese Shinkansen technology, specifically the E5 Series Shinkansen system, with Japanese technical and financial assistance and is regarded as a flagship symbol of India-Japan strategic cooperation.
First conceived in 2009, construction officiallay began in 2017, with 2022 set as the original target for completion. The project has faced multiple delays over the years, primarily due to land acquisition challenges. The Centre has repeatedly maintained that construction work on the corridor is progressing and that major civil works are underway across several sections of the route.
