Ananya Dutta
KOLKATA: The Railways were being misused by Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee to “bait” the people of West Bengal and “temptations are being shown to purchase the conscience and ideals of the people,” senior leader of the Communist Party of India (CPI), Gurudas Dasgupta said here on Sunday.
“Every day, advertisements appear in the newspapers about the inauguration of newer trains. The Railways are being used to bait the people,” he said at a convention of party workers of the State.
CPI general secretary A. B. Bardhan said that the Centre has failed in its economic policy and in other areas including the problem in Kashmir and Manipur.
Inadequate
Welcoming Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram's eight-point programme in Kashmir, Mr. Bardhan said that even though it was a good start, it was belated and inadequate.
On the question of grating greater autonomy to Kashmir, he said, “It can be discussed only when normalcy is restored. When the situation is returned to normal it should be considered.”
Mr. Bardhan was severely critical of the corruption charges in the Commonwealth Games and said that action must be taken against “those who were responsible for bringing shame to the nation.”
“The voices demanding an inquiry into the allegations were quashed saying that the games must be allowed to be conducted first. But, if we do not raise our voices now, there will never be an inquiry or committee,” he said.
To gain political mileage
Echoing Mr. Dasgupta's contention that Ms. Banerjee is “misusing” her Ministry to gain political mileage, Mr. Bardhan compared her promise of early elections in the State and the Centre's assurances regarding price rise.
He also criticised Ms. Banerjee for constantly demanding change in the State when there was a greater need for a change in the policies of the Central Government of which her party is a constituent.
She has never spoken out against price rise, and even though the Trinamool Congress is continuously harping on Singur and Nandigram, they were not present when demonstrations were held outside Parliament demanding amendments to the Land Acquisition Act 1894, he said.
“She (Ms. Banerjee) is very clever as she stays away from the cabinet meeting in which anti-people decisions are taken,” he added.
Mr. Bardhan and Mr. Dasgupta were also critical of Ms. Banerjee's snub to Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee when he was not invited to a recent Railway event in the city claiming it to be “an insult to the elected Government of West Bengal.” “They are undermining the federal structure of the government as defined by the Constitution,” Mr. Bardhan said.
Courtesy: http://www.hindu.com/2010/09/27/stories/2010092757211800.htm
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