Politics? Mamata toes foul play line

KOLKATA: Human error, signal failure or foul play? The last one is the latest addition to the list of causes put forward after the Sainthia accident. And in a Bengal buffeted by winds of change, it is also the most politically loaded.

Desperate to keep the pressure on LF government, Mamata and now the state Congress , have dropped broad hints of foul play. Before leaving for the accident site, she said: ‘‘ We are searching for details . Whatever has happened is not something casual thing. We will take steps against whoever is behind this.’’

The ‘whoever is behind this’ line suits Mamata, it seems. Her position at the forefront of the anti-establishment tide in Bengal has overshadowed her role as the railway minister. The result: there are many takers for her sabotage theory in Bengal. Interestingly , this angle has never been suggested for the 13 other train accidents across the country during her tenure.

Aware of the public mood, LF chairman Biman Bose and senior CPM leaders stopped short of demanding her resignation lest people accuse them of politicising the tragedy. Chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee held that the railways should look into reasons behind the rise in accidents and address the issue of passenger security.

Bose began his press meet with initiatives the state government and CPM have taken for victims’ treatment.

Even Bose was guarded while suggesting a CBI inquiry into the accident. ‘‘ We have asked for a high-level probe into the tragedy. If the railway authorities feel that the department does not have necessary infrastructure to conduct a detailed probe, they may hand over the case to CBI,’’ Bose said.

On the other hand, Trinamool Congress leader Partha Chatterjee and leader of opposition in Bengal said, ‘‘ Why are railway accidents are on the rise in West Bengal recently? We need to go into this. Has the railway emerged as a target, that’s what I want to know.’’

Responding to the Trinamool charge, state public works department minister Kshiti Goswami said: ‘‘ Are we demons? Why should we draw political mileage from such a tragedy? The railway minister should refrain from such a blame game and find out what went wrong with passenger security and safety,’’ said RSP minister Kshiti Goswami.