Former railway minister Lalu Prasad tenure will be a tough act to follow, but the new minister, Mamata Banerjee, tried to show she’s up to it by determinedly putting on her “Delhi face” on her first day at Rail Bhavan.
No shrill tones, no accusations and no tantrums at awkward questions, Banerjee spoke fluently in English and Hindi to mark a departure from her usual agitational self in an effort to project a national image in Delhi.
She admitted she would be spending the majority of her time in Kolkata, saying that communications have improved tremendously, it does not matter if I am not in
Delhi often, as long as the work gets done, what does it matter?”
Unlike her press conference in Kolkata, where she announced a season pass for Rs20 for unorganised sector labour, Banerjee played cautiously in Delhi.
“I have returned to Rail Bhavan after nearly a decade. Let me take stock of what has been done, then I will announce anything,” she said.
“My first priority is the railway budget and to make sure that the Railways fulfills its commitment to its employees under the 6th pay commission, the bill for which is Rs14,000 crore,” she said. “Railway safety, passenger amenities and revenue generation are all important,” she said.
When she was asked about the Rs90,000 crore surplus that her predecessor boasted about, pat came Banerjee’s reply, “That was before the recession. Let me look at the books and see whether or not the economic slowdown has affected foreign investment.”
Mellow Mamata even refused to attack the West Bengal government on relief and rehabilitation after cyclone Aila.
“During such times of crisis, we should all pitch in and help. There is enough time for combat later,” she said.
What a difference a change of city makes. The Left Front government in West Bengal must be hoping that Banerjee spends more time in Delhi.
