Rail Budget 2014: FDI in Railways an attempt to sell out country, says Mamata Banerjee

JANAI: Criticising FDI in infrastructure projects in the railway budget, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today alleged it was an attempt to sell out the country, while claiming that the exercise had 'neglected and humiliated' her state.

"So many bluffs have been given before the elections. Why they did not tell the people earlier of bringing FDI in defence and railways. Why now after the elections?" she told a government programme here in Hooghly district.

"Before the elections they promised to do many things, but their real face is getting exposed within a month," she said.

Alleging a vindictive attitude toward West Bengal, Banerjee said "It has been neglected and humiliated by the new government.

"Only one weekly express train has been given for Bengal. I ask that it be withdrawn. We are not beggars. We fight for our rights. We do not compromise," she said.

Stating that other states, including Bihar and Odisha, should get benefits, she said "But benefits should be equally distributed. Why is West Bengal being neglected and deprived?"

"Has anyone seen such neglect and humiliation ever? If Bengal is neglected we do not keep quiet," she said at the programme to deliver sops for the weaker sections of the people.

Banerjee, a former railway minister, said that she had approved 16 rail projects for her state and proposed 300 new trains for the state.

"Today my heart is burning. It is fortunate that I am not there in the Rajya Sabha or Lok Sabha. I do not know what I would have done had I been there," the Trinamool Congress supremo said.

She said that the previous Congress-led UPA government had deprived West Bengal of assistance and the present government was following suit.