Former Bihar Chief Minister and RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav launched a scathing attack on the Central government on Saturday, accusing it of making ’empty promises’ regarding the operation of special trains during the Chhath festival.
Taking to social media platform ‘X’, Lalu claimed that the Centre had boasted about operating 12,000 trains out of the country’s total 13,198 to cater to travellers heading home for Chhath Puja, a major festival celebrated by millions of Biharis across India.
He wrote, “The uncrowned king of lies and the leader of empty promises had boasted that out of the country’s total 𝟏𝟑,𝟏𝟗𝟖 trains, 𝟏𝟐,𝟎𝟎𝟎 trains would be operated for Bihar on the occasion of Chhath festival. This too turned out to be a blatant lie.”
Continuing his criticism, Lalu stated that in the 20 years of NDA rule, people of Bihar, already enduring the pain of mass migration, continue to face immense travel difficulties during the festival season.
He added, “My fellow Biharis are forced to travel in trains in an inhumane manner. How shameful is this?”
The RJD leader further blamed the NDA government’s ‘wrong policies’ for driving more than four crore Bihar residents to migrate to other states each year in search of employment.
He alleged, “Since the 𝐔𝐏𝐀 government, the 𝐍𝐃𝐀 government has not established any major industry in Bihar. These people are anti-Bihar.”
झूठ के बेताज बादशाह और जुमलों के सरदार ने शेखी बघारते हुए कहा था कि देश की कुल 𝟏𝟑,𝟏𝟗𝟖 ट्रेनों में से 𝟏𝟐,𝟎𝟎𝟎 रेलगाड़ियां छठ पर्व के अवसर पर बिहार के लिए चलाई जायेंगी। यह भी सफेद झूठ निकला।
𝟐𝟎 सालों की एनडीए सरकार में पलायन का दंश झेल रहे बिहारियों के लिए लोक आस्था के…
— Lalu Prasad Yadav (@laluprasadrjd) October 25, 2025
Indian Railways Responds
Refuting the RJD chief’s accusations, the Indian Railways’ official fact-check handle responded to his post, stating that the claim was misleading.
It clarified that during the festival season, Indian Railways had operated more than 12,000 special train services across the country to facilitate smooth travel for passengers heading home for Diwali and Chhath.
“During the festivals, Indian Railways has operated more than 12,000 special trains for the convenience of passengers so that every traveller can reach home safely for Diwali and Chhath. During festival times, crowds are natural, which railway employees are efficiently managing under 24×7 monitoring,” the statement read.
The fact-check handle further informed that Indian Railways had already operated approximately 6,000 trains and scheduled the remaining services in the days ahead.
“So far, Indian Railways has operated around 6,000 trains. From October 28 to November, it will run more than 6,000 additional trains,” it added.
The Railways also shared an official list of the 12,000-plus special services it is operating nationwide to accommodate festive travellers.
➡️ भारतीय रेल 12,000 से अधिक विशेष ट्रेनें संचालित कर रही है ।
➡️ बोर्ड, ज़ोन और मंडल स्तर पर वॉर रूम बनायी है। 24 X 7 निगरानी हो रही है।22 अक्टूबर के प्रेस नोट को गलत संदर्भ में पेश किया गया है।
➡️ प्रेस नोट में 20–25 अक्टूबर के अवधि के बारे में बताया है ।
➡️ उसमें कहा गया था… https://t.co/yVzJIQiraw pic.twitter.com/RMLE6CEgF3— Railway Fact Check (@IRFactCheck) October 25, 2025
Lalu Prasad Yadav’s remarks come amid the ongoing political tussle between the RJD and the NDA in Bihar, as both sides attempt to appeal to migrant workers and their families during the Chhath season.
The exchange has once again highlighted the sensitive issue of migration, employment, and infrastructure gaps that continue to dominate Bihar’s political discourse.
At a time when millions of devotees prepare for Chhath Puja, one of Bihar’s most sacred festivals, the debate underscores how development and connectivity remain at the centre of Bihar’s political narrative.
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