Time and again, we have discussed this question of accidents, and I was really painted to see how the minister tried to minimise the seriousness of the railway accidents. He also quoted in the other house the figures, the number of accidents that are taking place in other countries, particularly America and England. The conditions that are obtaining in these countries and that are obtaining in India are totally different. There, many of the accidents take place not because of follies, not because of the limitations under which those railways work, but mostly because of the enviornment that there has been in those countries. So, he did not mention the figures here but tool refuge under the guise that our railways much better than the railways work in other countries and that the rate of accidents in India is much lower than the rate of accidents in America. Sir, by having this discussion, the railway board and the railway ministry should be able to learn some lessions, and they if are prepared to implement the salient suggestions that will be made by the members, then many of these discussions will not take place and many of the accidents that take place these days will not occur. Sir, the fact that even the considerations of the coming general elections could not deflect the finance minister from the course which seemed to him necessary and proper, should earn him the appreciation of every right thinking man. The common man's interest, as I said, is nearer to our hearts than perhaps some others can claim, or at least it is equally nearer to us, and yet there come times in a nation's history when it becomes necessary for the people to postpone the fruits of their labour and enterprise to secure the future. Here also, Sir, opinions may differ. According to the communist party such a time came during the last great war when they were exhorting people.
