Click to play videoNew Delhi: The political blame game between the Left Front and Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee over the collision between Uttarbanga Express and Vananchal Express continues even though 48 hours after the tragic accident at Sainthia station.
Even though the dead may not have yet been bid the last farewell but the Railway Minister started the blame game by calling the Sainthia accident a 'scientific killing' of the Left Front.
"CPI-M (Communist Party of India-Marxist) orchestrated Gyaneshwari accident. Locals told me that CPM is behind it. This time, too, two days before my rally the accident happened. There is a link," Mamata said while addressing a massive rally in Kolkata on Wednesday.
Not surprisingly the ruling party in West Bengal was quick to hit back.
"This is a wild and an absurd charge. The fact that it has been said by a minister means that we will seek a privilege against such baseless charges," said CPI-M Politburo member Sitaram Yechuri.
But what came as a surprise was a comment from Union Home Minister P Chidambaram who said that the relief efforts after the train collision were slow.
"After the recent train disaster I am told the first relief train took 2 hours 30 minutes to reach and the second one took 7 hours. They had to drive for close to 220 km to reach accident site. We need better and quicker response," Chidambaram said.
The Left Front saw Chidambaram's statement as a vindication of its attack on the Railway Minister. But hours later the Home Ministry clarified that Chidambaram's statement were in no way a comment on Mamata.
"Home Minister expressed a desire that ways must be found to respond more quickly in case of a disaster. In that context, he suggested that NDMA should examine whether it can use helicopters and small aircraft. His statement is being misinterpreted," said a Home Ministry statement.
The tragedy is that the entire discourse should have been around improving rail safety. Instead it is about passing the buck.
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