Mamata: Can arrange train for Left rally
Making a stunning offer to the CPI(M), railway minister Mamata Banerje on Friday said that she was ready to arrange special trains to bring the workers of the Left Front for their rally at the Brigade Parade Ground on February 13. “I do not believe in the politics of them and us. If the Left wants, I can give special trains for their rally,” Ms Banerjee said, adding that even then they would not be able to fill up the Brigade Parade Ground.
For the Left Front, a Brigade rally had always been an occasion to mount its show of strength. She was clearly trying to rub salt to the CPI(M)’s injuries by mocking at its ability to ensure a big turnout this time.
As the elections are drawing closer, Ms Banerjee’s confidence is increasing. Her language and also her body language clearly reflects her new confidence. Ms Banerjee’s offer caught CPI(M) state secretary Biman Bose completely off guard. “Our workers will come for the rally by regular trains. We do not need special trains. If we need we will inform her,” he said.
Ms Banerjee was speaking at Haldia where she laid the foundation of a DMU coach factory. This project was originally scheduled to be set up at Howrah’s Sankrail but Ms Banerjee was forced to shift it to Haldia following a sustained movement by the CPI(M)-backed landlosers. The railway minister was livid at this forced retreat. “Although 99 per cent of the people in Sankrail wanted the project, I decided to shift following the objections of some,” she said. Lambasting the CPI(M) for derailing the Sankrail project, she warned that very soon the people would not leave the CPI(M) in a position to create hurdles in her path. She also made it clear that she was still open to setting up of another project at Sankrail in future.
Countering the CPI(M) charge, Ms Banerjee asserted that she was not anti-industry.
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