Varanasi, February 19: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday hit out at critics who were mocking Vande Bharat Express, India's first engine-less train, after it suffered a broke down on its inaugural run on Saturday and said that the comments against Train 18 is an "insult" to efforts of engineers and technicians. PM Modi also added people who mocked the train should be punished. Vande Bharat Express Reports Problem of 'Skidding Wheels' After Running Over Cattle a Day Before First Commercial Journey.

"Some people targeted and mocked the semi-high speed train. This is unfortunate. This is an insult to engineers and technicians involved in the project. People should remain alert against such people who are insulting engineers and technicians and mocking the country," PM Modi said at a rally in Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi, quoted news agency PTI. Train 18: Visuals From The Inside of 'Vande Bharat Express'; Watch Video.

"I salute engineering professionals, who will in future make a bullet train in India and run it also...I am getting letter of people who are hurt", the PM said asking people, "Whether it is right to insult engineers and technicians? Is mocking them right. Can they be pardoned? Should they not be given right punishment at the right time."

The statement from Modi comes after the Indian National Congress President Rahul Gandhi and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as Vande Bharat Express suffered a technical glitch on Saturday on its return journey from Varanasi. Facilities in Train 18: Passengers of Vande Bharat Express to Enjoy Muffins and Patties for Breakfast and Delicious Meals During Their Travel.

Criticising Modi government's Make in India initiative Gandhi tweeted, "Modi Ji, I think Make in India needs a serious rethink. Most people feel it has failed. I assure you we in the Congress are thinking very deeply about how it will be done."

"After the inauguration, fumes were seen in Vande Bharat train, power failure inside coaches, snag developed in brakes after which train came to a halt. Vande Bharat is a story of development. Farmers are angry, youths are unemployed, security system has collapsed and country's economy shattered," Akhilesh Yadav had tweeted.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 19, 2019 09:53 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).