Railway Minister Piyush Goyal agrees to meet Cong MPs tomorrow

Chandigarh, November 3

Amid the ongoing conflict between the Centre and the Congress-led state government over the Central farm Acts that led to halting of goods trains, efforts by the Congress MPs to meet Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal today yielded result after the latter agreed to meet the MPs on November 5.

Congress MP from Ludhiana Ravneet Bittu, who is party's whip in the Lower House of Parliament, confirmed the scheduled meeting with Railways Minister. Sources in the Congress government said the meeting with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman could not materialise as the time was given only for virtual meeting.

Earlier, the two Union Cabinet ministers had refused to meet the Congress MPs. The MPs, who have sought time from the Prime Minister, are yet to get the appointment. To be part of the relay dharna in Delhi, the Chief Minister left for Delhi in the evening. Sources said efforts were on to arrange a meeting of the Chief Minister with the Prime Minister. However, officials in the state government denied any such move.

Sources in the party said the BJP leadership hardened its stand on the issue after effigies of the Prime Minister were burnt on Dasehra and the same was tweeted by the top Congress leadership. — TNS