India rejects ex-Japanese minister's bullet train criticism

India has firmly rejected criticism from a former Japanese minister who blamed New Delhi for delays in the flagship Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project, dismissing the remarks as an individual opinion at considerable variance with the facts. The Ministry of External Affairs stated that discussions on the high-speed rail corridor are progressing well, with the first section scheduled to open in 2027.

The controversy stems from social media posts by Hideki Makihara, Japan's former justice minister and a member of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, published around July 15. Makihara, who claimed personal involvement in the project, alleged reckless handling by Indian officials, stating they repeatedly failed to keep promises and pushed their own self-interest in negotiations. He specifically criticized the Indian minister in charge of the project and asserted that the lack of progress was entirely due to the Indian side. Makihara also claimed Japan had been excluded from the project's critical signaling system.

In a response on July 17, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal countered these claims. He stated that no Japanese offer had been received for the...