Gyaneswari Express mishap: BJP slams CPI(M), Trinamool; seeks PM's intervention

The BJP today accused the CPI(M) and the Trinamool Congress of fighting a political match over the Gyaneswari Express disaster and sought prime minister Manmohan Singh's intervention to check, what it called, the "highly irresponsible" behaviour of its minister.

"Both Trinamool Congress' railway minister Mamata Banerjee and the CPI(M), which is heading the state government, have failed in providing quick relief to train disaster victims. Both of them are engaged in a political match over the issue with an eye on the assembly elections in the state," party spokesperson Prakash Javdekar told reporters in New Delhi.

The BJP came down heavily on Banerjee for "giving a clean chit to Maoists even before the inquiry is to happen" and urged the prime minister to ensure that such things are not allowed as it will only embolden the Maoists.

He also said that the prime minister should immediately swing into action and "make amends in the irresponsible behaviour of the UPA minister".

Accusing authorities of showing carelessness towards the relief and rescue work, Javdekar said, "The prime minister must step in to provide quick relief to the train disaster victims and also order a high level inquiry."

"The railway minister has forgotten railway security and appears more inclined to give a clean chit to Maoists, which is highly irresponsible. When the probe is yet to happen, how could she come to know that there is no Maoist hand into the incident," the party spokesperson said.

"If UPA ministers work like this, it will be a betrayal of the mandate. This will only embolden Maoists. Prime minister should see that this does not happen," he said.

He alleged that there was shortage of manpower and equipment at the accident site and bodies were still trapped in the train compartments.

"We condemn the carelessness towards the relief and rescue work that is being seen there even after 72 hours after the incident," Javdekar said.