Mamata acts like a minister for WB only: Orissa Minister

Last Updated: Monday, February 15, 2010, 22:35

Tags: Mamata, minister for WB only, Orissa Minister

Rourkela: Branding Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee more as a 'Minister for West Bengal than a Union Minister', Orissa Finance Minister Prafulla Chandra Ghadai on Monday said Banerjee was only concentrating on development of her home state but ignored the 'legitimate' demand of others.

While every year a delegation of MLAs of Orissa led by the assembly Speaker used to meet the railway minister before the presentation of railway budget, for the past one month the state delegation failed to secure a single appointment with her, Ghadai said at the 49th foundation day of Rourkel Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Expressing reservations about the functioning of Railway Ministry under the present UPA government, Ghadai said it was really unfortunate that the practice of Orissa delegation meeting the Railway Minister for past 30 years was disrupted this time.

Ghadai also criticised Banerjee for inaugurating the Rourkela-Bhubneswar Intercity Express through remote control from West Bengal.

"People should know how she is running an important ministry like railway remaining all the time in West Bengal," he said.

Even an invitation presented to the people of Orissa was printed in Bengali, Hindi and English and not in Oriya language, he said.

Ghadai also criticised the Railway Ministry for not including the industrial and mining belt of Jharsuguda, Brajarajnagar, Rourkela and Tensa in the East Coast Railway (EcoR).

The EcoR had been incurring huge commercial revenue losses, Ghadai said.

PTI

First Published: Monday, February 15, 2010, 22:35

Comments

M.Swaminathan -
Mr.Gadhai has expressed his grievances publicly for not having meeting with Rly Minister and disrupted the practice of 30 yrs representation. He must appreciate that result oriented works and planning for future railway have ever been done by any railway minister since independence except Mrs.Mamata Banaerjee and that is admitted by PM and all other states. Moreover, everybody must aware that Mrs.Banerjee is more concious on nataional interest besides own state. Where the followers are there when they were in central ministry and what developmental work for nation were done by them that has to be ascertained. If they feel need more railway line/projects etc they should give proposal to the railway ministry in scientific manner it is not necessary physical representation to become popular hero only. Think about total development of the costal and east India and hinterland communication on resonal basis so that simultaneous progress can be done for sake of nation.
If would think before then such type mao affected could not spread out to other states for want of better rail and road communication. Due to long term failure and unwillingness to develope sincerely the people of state after having no food cloth education they diverted and fell into trap of outfit oranisations. Minister so should try for better relationship with centre and developing works.