Train accident: West Bengal assembly rocked for second day

The Sainthia train accident rocked the West Bengal Assembly for the second day today with Left Front members demanding the resignation of Railway Minister, and Trinamool Congress accusing the Speaker of misusing the House for political purposes.

RSP member Tapan Hore said the Railways was trying to wash its hands off yesterday's accident with the Railway Board Chairman holding the driver of the Uttarbanga Express, which rammed into the Vananchal Express, responsible.

The Railway board chairman was told to say this to save the Railways, Hore alleged after he was allowed to raise the issue by Speaker HA Halim.

Claiming that neither Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee nor the Railway Board had discharged their responsibilities, he demanded that the Minister should resign owning moral responsibility for the accident.

Senior CPI(M) member Rabin Mondol said that 15 train accidents had taken place in the country in the past one year.

When the Railway Minister had visited Sainthia station yesterday, Mondol said, the people had raised slogans demanding her resignation.

Trinamool Congress members strongly protested this and alleged that the House was being used for political purposes to criticise the Railway Minister.