India Railways became rich, collected revenue of Rs 2.40 lakh crore in the last financial year

Passenger revenue of Indian Railways increased by 61 percent on annual basis to reach Rs 63,300 crore. The Ministry of Railways gave this information in a statement on Monday.

According to the statement, the revenue from freight has increased to Rs 1.62 lakh crore in 2022-23.

Railways to earn Rs 2.40 lakh crore revenue in 2022-23

Passenger revenue grew by 61 percent to Rs 63,300 crore

Freight revenue rises to Rs 1.62 lakh crore
New Delhi : Indian Railways has earned a record revenue of Rs 2.40 lakh crore in the financial year 2022-23. This figure is about Rs 49,000 crore more than the previous financial year. The Ministry of Railways gave this information in a statement on Monday. According to the statement, the revenue from freight has increased to Rs 1.62 lakh crore in 2022-23, which is about 15 percent more than the previous year.

Passenger revenue of Indian Railways increased by 61 percent on annual basis to reach Rs 63,300 crore. The statement further said that after three years the Indian Railways has been able to meet its pension expenditure. Over the years, the Railways had approached the Ministry of Finance to bear some part of its pension liability.

According to the statement, after meeting all revenue expenditure, the Railways earned Rs 3,200 crore from internal sources on account of capital investment.

Hong Kong bishop visits China for the first time after de-colonization, intends to establish friendly relations with China?

The bishop of the Catholic Hong Kong Diocese, Zhou Shouren, arrived in Beijing on Monday for a five-day visit. The outside world is concerned about how his visit to China will affect Vatican-China relations at a time when relations between the Vatican and China are increasingly tense.

This Monday, Bishop Chow Shou-jen of the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong will visit Beijing. This is the first bishop of the Diocese of Hong Kong to visit China after Hong Kong broke away from British colonization. According to Deutsche Welle, Zhou Shouren's trip is at the invitation of Bishop Li Shan of the Beijing Diocese. The two will meet. Zhou Shouren will also visit the National Catholic Academy of Theology and Philosophy of China, and preside over a Thanksgiving Mass at the Xuanwumen Catholic Church.

There has been friction between China and the Vatican over the appointment of bishops. In 2018, the two parties signed a provisional agreement. According to the agreement, China recognizes the Pope’s authority in the Roman Catholic Church and the final decision on the appointment of bishops in China; the Vatican recognizes the legitimacy of the Chinese government’s previous appointment or expulsion of bishops.

China repeatedly violates Vatican-China agreement

However, the Chinese government has repeatedly violated the content of the above agreement. Our station previously reported that in November 2022, China unilaterally appointed Peng Weizhao as "auxiliary bishop of Jiangxi", and the Vatican expressed solemn protest at that time. The Vatican pointed out: "The implementation of this incident did not follow the spirit of the existing dialogue between the Vatican and China, as well as the provisional agreement on the appointment of bishops signed on September 22, 2018. The Pope hopes that similar incidents will not be repeated, and at the same time looks forward to relevant authorities. Appropriate notice shall be given."

In early April this year, China unilaterally appointed Shen Bin as Bishop of Shanghai. It is rumored that the Vatican only learned of this decision on the eve of the appointment.

Vatican wants to establish friendly relations Priest: Hong Kong Bishop's visit to China shows Vatican's compromise

At the same time, the retired former Hong Kong Cardinal Chen Rijun also publicly criticized the signing of the Vatican-China bishop appointment agreement between the Vatican and China. Chen Rijun believes that the Holy See has never condemned China's persecution of human rights and religious freedom, but actively seeks to improve relations with Beijing. Such an approach is "selling out" China's underground Catholic groups.

Pastor Liu Yi, founder of the "Chinese Christian Justice Fellowship" in San Francisco, USA, also told reporters in an interview with this station that the Hong Kong bishop's visit to Beijing now shows that the Vatican has compromised with Beijing: "I think this should be a rather regrettable thing. Although In 2018, the Vatican had a secret agreement with the Chinese government on bishops. However, the Chinese government blatantly violated this agreement with the Vatican at Easter this year, that is, to transfer Bishop Shen Bin from the Hainan Diocese of Jiangsu to the Shanghai Diocese. Bishops from the Shanghai Diocese, this practice violates Catholic tradition and beliefs, because the appointment and transfer of all their bishops must be decided by the Holy See."

Liu Yi said: "Under such an environment, Bishop Chow of Hong Kong's visit to Beijing will give the outside world, especially those loyal to the Catholic Church, the impression that the Bishop of Hong Kong is constantly compromising with China. Although the invitation this time It seems to be unofficial. This time the invitation was invited by the Diocese of Beijing, not by the State Administration of Religious Affairs. It seems to be a normal religious exchange activity, but in fact, all Catholic churches in mainland China are held by the Catholic Patriotic Association. Controlled, that is, controlled by the Chinese government."

Chinese authorities fear further infiltration of Hong Kong religious circles

Wang Ruiqin, former deputy secretary-general and deputy director-general of the Christian Church in Qinghai Province, believes that Zhou Shouren's visit to China may herald further interference by the Chinese authorities in Hong Kong's religion: "Catholicism is brutally suppressed in China. Inside, Catholicism is always the first to be persecuted. The current Hong Kong bishop’s visit to Beijing is a very important signal. First, Beijing has strengthened its penetration into Hong Kong’s religions, especially Catholicism. Second, Beijing’s next step for all religious groups in Hong Kong control will be in sight."

Wang Ruiqin also added that the Chinese authorities have always broken religious agreements, so it is not too surprising to break the agreement with the Holy See on the appointment of bishops: "All the agreements, contracts, and promises of the Chinese government have no guarantees and will change at any time, like it in May 1951. The 17-article agreement signed with Tibet last month, it was only signed for 5 years, and the war with Tibet started in 1956."

The Vatican's relationship with China faces a number of challenges. The Vatican hopes to protect Catholics in China by establishing friendly relations with China. However, the Chinese government has repeatedly violated the interim agreement signed by the two sides, making the Vatican continue to fall into difficulties in maintaining relations with China.