Thaindian News

New Delhi, July 19 (IANS) The Congress Monday spoke in different voices on the moral responsibility of Trinamool Congress chief and Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee over the train accident in West Bengal, in which at least 63 people were killed.
While the All India Congress Committee (AICC) remained circumspect about defending Banerjee, the party’s West Bengal unit backed her firmly. Assembly elections are due in West Bengal in 2011.

At least 63 people were killed and 157 injured Monday in the accident in Birbhum district, the second major train accident in West Bengal in less than two months that have claimed over 200 lives.

In Delhi, Congress spokesman Shakeel Ahmed sought to sidestep questions about the performance of Banerjee as railway minister.

“It is not a question of being satisfied or not…It is very difficult to comment without an inquiry,” Ahmed said in response to questions about the party being satisfied with the performance of Banerjee.

Asked if Banerjee would be removed from the railway ministry if there is a cabinet reshuffle, the Congress spokesman said: “It is for the prime minister to decide which minister will remain in which ministry and for how long.”

“The prime minister does whatever is in the national interest,” he added.

Ahmed said the party was confident the railway minister would fix responsibility after the inquiry report was submitted.

Asked about Banerjee’s moral responsibility, he said it was natural for the minister concerned to be worried about such an incident.

However, he said it is not possible to ascertain the reasons for the accident till the inquiry report was submitted.

Ahmed also expressed hope that the railway authorities would take adequate steps to prevent recurrence of such incidents.

In West Bengal, state Congress chief Manas Bhuniya rubbished the ruling Left Front’s observation that Banerjee was an incompetent railway minister.

The state Congress unit firmly stood behind Banerjee and demanded a high-level inquiry into the train accident.

“We demand a detailed and high-level inquiry into the incident. We want the truth to come out. Rail tracks are soft targets. Memories of Gyaneshwari (express tragedy) are still fresh in our minds,” Bhuniya said.

He said Banerjee was doing her best as a railway minister. “She is a minister of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government. She is a very efficient minister,” added Bhuniya.

At least 63 people were killed and 157 injured early Monday after a speeding Sealdah-bound Uttar Banga Express rammed into three coaches of the stationary Bhagalpur-Ranchi Vananchal Express at Sainthia station in West Bengal’s Birbhum district, about 190 km from Kolkata.