Mamata Banerjee rejects Left accusation of silence over price rise

Railway minister Mamata Banerjee today dismissed the accusation by Left parties that she had been silent over hike in the prices of essential commodities, and said her ministry had not hiked passenger fares despite rise in petroleum prices on several occasions.

"Petroleum prices have increased on ten occasions, but not once railway fares were hiked," Banerjee said.

Speaking after laying foundation stone of a water booster pumping station of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation at Behala in the southern outskirts, she said, "We are not consulted when prices are hiked." She was referring to price increases related to other ministries.

"We are part of the central government, but everything does not happen according to our wishes," Banerjee said, adding the Trinamool Congress holds only the Railway ministry independently and the other six ministers are only ministers of state.

Referring to frequent criticism of the Trinamool Congress by the Left Front in West Bengal about rise in prices of petroleum products and other essential commodities, she said both the Centre and the state have raised prices.

"Charity begins at home," Banerjee quipped and wondered "what the state government here has to say about that".

She said despite increase in public transport fares in the city, the Metro railway prices have remained the same over the years and costs just Rs8 to cover the entire distance from Garia to Dum Dum.