Naming roads, trains and city squares have always been a matter of controversy in India. But this time round, CPI(M) MP Basudeb Acharia has taken offence at railways minister Mamata Banerjee renaming a train.
In a letter to prime minister Manmohan Singh, Acharia complained that Mamata has renamed “Pratham Swatantra Sangram Express” “Sipahi Express” only to hog the credit for the train which was started after Acharia had tirelessly campaigned for it with former railway minister Lalu Prasad.
The train, which used to ply between Jhansi and Barrackpore, has now been extended to terminate at Kolkata, giving the impression that it is a new train started by Mamata — a fact which has been irritating Acharia to no end.
In his letter, Acharia has said the renaming is an insult to the martyrs of the first war of independence in 1857. “The changed name amounts to dishonouring the martyrs who laid down their lives for the war of independence. The train’s name, which was announced on the floor of House, should not have been changed without taking the parliament into confidence,” he said.
Acharia has been reportedly writing protest letters to Mamata. But Mamata, who is committed to defeating his party in the 2011 assembly polls, has not responded to any letter.
The railway ministry has always been a popular way of extending political patronage. Acharia, who was the chairman of the standing committee on railways in parliament for five years, had a good run while Lalu was railway minister.
Mamata, however, prefers to waste no time. She has ensured that the credit for any railway development in West Bengal falls squarely on her. One casualty, therefore, is the “Pratham Swatantra Sangram Express”. Now known as “Sipahi Express”.
