Bangalore: Passengers on Bangalore-Chennai Shatabdi Express were greeted with a newspaper kept on their seats on April 22. This triggered a row leading Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) to issue a response.
Activist Gopika Bashi, taking to Twitter wrote, “This morning I boarded the Bangalore-Chennai Shatabdi Express only to be greeted by this blatantly propagandist publication on every other seat – The Aryavarth Express. Had never even heard of it.”
She further questioned that how IRCTC permit this newspaper to be distributed on its trains.
‘The Aryavarth Express’ a newspaper, had a headline stating “UN should label Aurangzeb as perpetuator of Holocaust like Hitler” and “Genocide of Hindus, Sikhs & Buddhists under Islamic Rule needs to be recognised,” on its front page. One headline said, “CIA agent, Congresswoman Ilhan visits PoK (Pakistan-occupied Kashmir).”
The main article of the newspaper alleged that the genocide of Hindus under Afghan, Turkish and Islamic rulers must be recognized. The article speaks about Mahmud of Ghazni, Timur the Turco-Mongol conqueror. It also claims that Indian children didn’t know what their ancestors went through.
Many people including Parliamentarians from Congress took to Twitter and questioned the move.
MP Manickam Tagore took to Twitter and tweeted, “Will Hon’ble Rail minister @AshwiniVaishnaw order an inquiry into it ? Whether it’s the proved policy of the @RailMinIndia to allow propaganda material in the Shatabdi express? Will write and raise the issue in Loksabha.”
AICC leader Karti Chidambaram tweeted, “@RailMinIndia how does this paper get to be on list of subscribed publications?”
These tweets triggered warth on social media. IRTC had to issue a response stating “The mentioned “Aryavarth Express” was found inside the regular approved newspaper as an insert. The newspaper vendor has been strictly advised to avoid any such inserts in the future. Onboard monitoring staff will keep a strict vigil of the same. The licensee of the train has also been counselled.”
They further added, “Onboard monitoring staff will keep a strict vigil of the same. The licensee of the train has also been counselled.”
Divisional Railway Manager, Chennai, through its official Twitter handle tweeted that his Bangalore counterpart is probing the issue of how the newspaper found its way to train. He tweeted, “We like to inform everyone that the train belongs to the Bengaluru division and the incident happened there. We are sure they will take appropriate action.”
The newspaper was delivered to passengers as an insert to Deccan Herald, which was subscribed by the IRCTC, according to Anup Dayanand Sadhu, Chief Commercial Manager, South Western Railway.
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