rediff.com: Basu threatens legal action against Eastern Railway

West Bengal Chief Minister Jyoti Basu Thursday threatened to take legal action against the Eastern Railway for criticising the state government in public on the distribution of relief to the flood victims.

Taking serious exception to an advertisement by the Eastern Railway in Thursday's newspapers directly criticising the state government, Basu came down heavily on ER and Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee, who had charged the state administration with 'deliberately causing a man-made flood'.

"She is not only a violent woman, but also a liar. She has stooped so low!" Basu retorted when newspersons sought his comment on Banerjee's allegations.

Basu said the advertisement was fabricated by the railway department "to appease the railway minister and with her full consent".

The ad which caused Basu's ire was published in the form of an appeal to flood-affected people saying, "We understand your sentiments and resentment for relief not having been provided to your by the state government but appeal to you, not to hamper railway efforts/work for restoration of damaged rail lines as it will affect lakhs of your brothers similarly affected by the floods."

MP Somnath Chatterjee, who met Basu during the day told newpersons that he would take up the accusation by the ER and the railway minister with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and urge him to take immediate action.

"I will also raise the issue in the Parliament. I hope the PM will not only give his time to the NDA, but also give thought to this issue", he said.

"There was no sign of Mamata for six days, now she is making these wild allegations to hog front page headlines. Her allegations stem not only from ignorance, but are also motivated," he said.

Basu counter-charged the Trinamul Congress chief of indulging in "low grade politics", while commenting on Banerjee's allegations that the floods were not due to the monsoons but because of deliberate release of water from the state's Massanjore and Tilpara barrages without prior warning, to divert the people's attention from state's law and order situation.

"She says that the floods were a political conspiracy. With over 17.5 million people devastated, how can she stoop to such low grade politics?" Basu asked.

To a question, Basu said the flood situation continued to improve with all major rivers receding, while rescue and relief operation were in full swing.

The chief minister said Union Agriculture Minister Nitish Kumar had informed him that he would make an aerial survey on September 30 and "later discuss the situation at a meeting with us the same day".

"Our officials have already gone to Patna to accompany Nitish Kumar during his aerial survey of the affected areas", Basu said.


	HOME \| NEWS \| PTI \| REPORT