We can win again: Croatia’s Olic

Recife (Brazil): Croatia’s veteran striker Ivica Olic expressed confidence about winning their next and final Group A clash against Mexico at the Arena Pernambuco on June 23. Taking potshots at BJP’s poll slogan of “good days are to come”, Congress General Secretary and head of its media department Ajay Maken said the “gift” by the Modi government is putting an additional burden on the shoulders of the middle class, lower middle class and the poor.

Reading out a portion of the letter Modi had written to then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Maken said, “The decision also reflects huge communication gap between the Ministries of Railway, Energy, Coal and Environment. This is despite the Prime Minister constituting a high-level committee for coordination'”.

In a pre-budget move, Railways effected a steep hike of 14.2 percent in passenger fares in all classes and a 6.5 percent increase in freight rates.

“This comes at a time when the prices of onions and potatoes have skyrocketed. Also, there is concern about delay in monsoon and the ongoing problem is Iraq is also having an effect on global crude prices.

“This hike will have affect prices of food items, coal and hence we strongly condemn it,” Maken said at a hurriedly-called press conference.

He said another sad part was that this hike comes into effect from June 25.

“If a family has gone out for summer holidays, and if they are coming back on or after June 25, the TT will ask for additional money,” he said, criticising the small gestation period.

Asked what was Congress’ demand, he said, “As an Opposition party, we demand an immediate roll back of this hike. Never before in history, has there been such a huge hike”.

Kolkata: West Bengal Left Front Chairman Biman Bose on Friday criticized the rail fare hike and said that the Left would organise protests before railway stations and railway offices across the state.

“We condemn the railway fare hike. We will organize demonstrations and street corner meetings in front of railway stations against hike in fares and freight charges, “Bose said in a statement.

Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Friday said the hopes and aspirations of people from the Narendra Modi government were turning into disappointment because of inflation.

He said price of diesel was being increased by 50 paisa per litre every month and general public would have to bear this financial burden.

Hooda said Congress would contest the coming Assembly polls on development plank.

He said there was proposal to set up industrial model town at Mahendragarh