New Delhi:
Lok Sabha proceedings were today disrupted briefly with Left and Trinamool Congress members clashing after a CPI-M MP criticised Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee for two recent train accidents in West Bengal.
Ram Chandra Dome (CPI-M), while participating in the debate on the Supplementary Demands for Grants for Railways, said safety and security of passengers was the primary concern
today and criticised Banerjee for the two railway mishaps on May 28 and July 19.
On May 28, Mumbai-bound Jnaneshwari Express was derailed by suspected Maoists near Jhargram in West Bengal that left around 150 dead. In the other accident on July 19, Uttarbanga and Vananchal Express trains collided at Sainthia in West Bengal leaving over 60 dead.
No sooner had Dome mentioned the two railway accidents in the state, than Trinamool Congress members were on their feet protesting the CPI-M member's remarks. Dome said 13 persons had been arrested in connection with one of the mishaps and wanted to know who they were. He was supported by other Left members in the House.
Soon a slanging match broke out and Deputy Speaker Karia Munda's appeals for order went unheeded.
Responding to opposition's charge of rise in rail mishaps during her tenure, Banerjee said, "You can blame me politically ... (but) politically I can't kill people. You cannot kill passengers politically."
While the number of accidents is declining, the number of passengers are increasing, she said and added that "it is unfair to say that accidents occur every day. Railways run
17,000 trains every day carrying over 2 crore passengers... when something bad happens, it is very sad...we are trying to avoid accidents. There should be no accident."
Admitting that sometimes accidents occur due to human errors, she promised strict action whenever lapses are noticed. The railway, she added, has refrained from increasing
fares despite rise in prices of diesel and additional burden on account of implementation of the 6th Pay Commission award. "Prices have increased but the rail fare has not," she said.
On MPs' demands for taking up socially important projects, she suggested that there should be a Prime Minister Railway Vikas Yojana for those schemes that are financially unviable
but otherwise desirable. "A one-time special grant can solve the problems of railways", she said.
The Minister also defended the Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode for implementation of important rail projects saying that was an important mechanism to increase output and
availability of wagons and coaches. PPP does not mean privatisation of railways, she said, adding, "we will not privatise railways".
On complaints of members that railway authorities do not listen to them, the Minister said senior officials would be appointed in all divisions to address the grievances raised
by MPs.