'Brazen Waste Of Taxpayers Money': Congress Chief Kharge Slams Modi Govt Over PM's 3D Selfie Booths

Kharge also provided a copy of a response acquired under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, which named the Central Railway stations with temporary and permanent selfie booths.

Congress Chief Mallikarjun Kharge.

Source : Getty

While opposition states await MGNREGA funds, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday stated that putting up "selfie booths" at railway stations with images of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a "brazen waste" of taxpayers' money. Taking to X (formerly known as Twitter), Kharge said: "Self-obsessed promotion by Modi govt knows NO bounds! Absolutely brazen waste of taxpayers money by installing Modiji's 3D selfie points at railway stations."

The Congress head said that the blood and sacrifice of the country's gallant troops had previously been utilised politically by directing the armed services to erect 822 such selfie sites with conspicuous cut-outs of the prime minister.

"Modi govt hasn't provided drought and flood relief to states. MGNREGA funds for opposition ruled states are also pending. But it has the audacity to generously splurge public money on these cheap election stunts!" he said.

Self-obsessed promotion by Modi Govt knows NO bounds!

Absolutely brazen waste of taxpayers money by installing Modi ji’s 3D selfie points at Railway Stations. (RTI Reply)

Earlier, the blood and sacrifice of our brave soldiers was politically used by ordering the Armed Forces… pic.twitter.com/HEYo8OqmOo

— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) December 26, 2023

Kharge also provided a copy of a response acquired under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, which named the Central Railway stations with temporary and permanent selfie booths.

According to the RTI response, the permitted cost for temporary selfie booths for category "A" stations is Rs 1.25 lakh apiece, while the installation cost for permanent selfie booths for category "C" stations is Rs 6.25 lakh each.

The Hindustan Times reported earlier in October that the railway board in Delhi had directed general managers of 19 zonal railways to establish photo booths at stations. These booths were planned to be built with long-lasting 3D fibre sculptures, acrylic boards, glass, and integrated lighting to display 3D sculptures made of fibre, clay, or plaster of Paris (PoP). Skill India, Ujjwala Yojana, and the Chandrayaan Mission are among the programmes highlighted by the installations.