Chandauli(UP)/New Delhi:
A group of 26 members of Parliament travelling from Bihar to Delhi have protested over having to travel in second-class compartments of the Rajdhani Express.
Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi confirmed that a senior official has been suspended as a result.
"I have apologised to them (MPs) over phone. We have taken strong action and we will suspend the senior-most official involved in this. This is not acceptable that Parliamentarians have to face this," he said.
All serving and former MPs are entitled to travel in first-class coaches - if required, and with adequate notice, they can ask for a special AC coach to be added for them. The MPs were told this coach would be attached at the Mughalsarai station. However, a technical fault prevented this.
Most of the MPs from Bihar finally travelled in a second-class AC coach; some of them shared berths.
Railways officials say they are setting up a special cell for handling reservations for MPs. The cell will start functioning three days before Parliament session begins and will be operational till three days after the end of the session. (With PTI Inputs)