BJP rejects political conspiracy theory behind Gyaneshwari Express train mishap

BJP today rejected the 'political conspiracy' theory of railway minister Mamata Banerjee behind the derailment of Gyaneshwari Express train at Midnapore in West Bengal that claimed 148 lives.

'It is a political expression to get political mileage and with an eye on civic polls in West Bengal', BJP spokesperson Ramnath Kovind told reporters.

'We do not see any political conspiracy. Banerjee wanted to shift the blame to home minister and West Bengal government', he said.

Banerjee had alleged there was a "political conspiracy" behind the derailment without blaming Maoists for the disaster and demanded a CBI probe.

Stating that Naxalism has become a major threat to country,
Kovind said BJP was for 'limited use of army and defence
service' to face the challenge poised by Maoists. 'We want
war against Naxalites', he said.

Alleging that there was no unanimity among Central cabinet ministers in finalising a clear cut strategy to tackle Naxalism, Kovind said BJP wanted prime minister Manmohan Singh
to explain the government's stand on the problem of Naxalism.

The UPA government at the Centre was a complete failure and
on foreign policy, the government appeared to be ''totally
capitulating'' before the US, he charged.

He demanded scrapping of the justice Ranganath Mishra
Commission report on religious and linguistic minorities. UPA
was trying to enforce the report with an eye on vote bank
politics, he said.

'The recommendations, if implemented, will adversely affect
OBC category as it is from their quota, religious minorities
and convert Dalit christians and Muslims will be accommodated,' he added.