The Congress has strongly criticized the government led by Narendra Modi for the installation of PM selfie booths at railway stations, denouncing them as a "brazen waste of taxpayers’ money."
According to information obtained through a Right to Information (RTI) application, the railway ministry has allocated Rs 6.25 lakh for each permanent 3D selfie booth featuring Prime Minister Narendra Modi's image at railway stations. Additionally, the installation cost for a temporary selfie booth is Rs 1.25 lakh, as revealed in the RTI response.
The disclosure from the RTI has sparked controversy, drawing condemnation from the Opposition, particularly the Congress, which has characterized the selfie booths as an "outrageous squandering of taxpayers' money."
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, sharing the RTI response on X, commented, "Self-obsessed promotion by Modi government knows no bounds! Absolutely brazen waste of taxpayers' money by installing Modi ji’s 3D selfie points at Railway Stations. (RTI Reply)."
Kharge went on to allege that the sacrifice of the country's brave soldiers was previously exploited for political purposes by ordering the armed forces to install 822 such selfie points featuring prominent cut-outs of PM Modi.
Further criticizing the BJP-led central government, Kharge accused them of "splurging public money" on "cheap election stunts" while neglecting critical issues such as pending MGNREGA funds for opposition-ruled states and the absence of drought and flood relief.
It is noteworthy that both temporary and permanent selfie booths have been set up at railway stations in various divisions, including Mumbai, Nagpur, Bhusaval, Pune, and Solapur, under the central railways.
