New Delhi: A day after Home Minister P Chidambaram said Maoists could be behind the attack on Jnaneswari Express, Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee Tuesday said she was not sure about the involvement of the Left-wing
extremists.
"I do not know whether it is Maoists who were behind
the attack. But whoever is behind the attack should be
punished," Banerjee told reporters here.
She said she does not want to comment further on the
issue before the investigation is over.
"I am not a political astrologer. I cannot say anything
before investigation," she said.
Chidambaram yesterday said the needle of suspicion
pointed to Maoists or their frontal organisations.
The Railways has asked for a CBI probe into the
incident which claimed 149 lives. However, the state government
has not favoured such an idea.
"The matter of CBI probe is under the consideration of
Ministry of Home Affairs," Banerjee said.
The priority before the government is to ensure
passengers` safety and security, she said.
Banerjee termed the incident as a brutal murder of
innocent people and said the government will do everything to
punish the culprits.
On May 28, 13 coaches of the Maharashtra-bound express
were derailed and the train was later hit by a goods train coming from
the opposite direction.
Asked about the police firing incident in West Bengal
during yesterday`s civic body polls in which one person was
killed, the Trinamool Congress chief said her party activists
should not be blamed for it and held Chief Minister Buddhadeb
Bhattacharya responsible.
"It is the Chief Minister`s constituency. The CM allowed
the goons to rig the elections. It is their internal fight.
They did not allow the Trinamool workers and candidates to be
there. TC does not know anything," she said.
PTI
