Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee alleged there was a “political conspiracy” behind the Jnaneswari Express derailment and demanded a CBI probe, as the toll climbed to 141. She did not blame Maoists for the disaster

Banerjee told reporters in Kolkata that Maoists cannot be held responsible until investigations are completed, though the disaster was happened in Maoist heartland.

“From the Railway we have requested Union Home Ministry for a CBI investigation into the incident since it was in jangalmahal where joint operation is on. We have already sent a letter and the Centre has agreed to order it,” she said.

Referring to the conspiracy Minister told “The accident has happened two days before the (civic) election. One may be politically against us, but I feel bad that the way the incident was engineered to fulfill one’s political interest. Those who have done this sabotage and played with so many lives should not be pardoned”.

Banarjee also ruled out the reports that the fish plates were removed before the tragedy occurred. She said, “I do not know from where this story has come. The railway lines there were long-welded railway lines which have no fish plates”. She also said three express trains had passed through the derailment spot just before the diaster.

The FIR was filed by Railway police also did not made any mention of Maoists. FIR was lodged against “unidentified miscreants” under sections 150 (maliciously wrecking or attempting to wreck a train) and 151 (damage to or destruction of certain railway properties)of the Railway Act.

Meanwhile, in the FIR that the train’s driver B K Das filed with the Government Railway Police(GRP) unit in Jhargram he referres to an explosion on the track when the Howrah-Kurla Lokmanya Tilak Gyaneshwari Super Deluxe Express derailed in West Midnapore district, about 150 kms from Kolkata at around 1:30 am.

Additional Director General Government Railway Police (GRP) Dilip Mitra said “It is the duty of the West Bengal administration to find out who is responsible,”  Banerjee said she did not know who were behind it, but “whoever did it, it was a political conspiracy.

CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury came strongly opposing Mamata’s claims pointing fingers at the Left party and described her remarks as unfortunate and absurd.

He told that the claim was being done with tomorrow’s (Sunday) civic elections in mind. He also added that Banerjee is trying to cover up her “serious lapses.”

[Source: PTI]