Kolkata, July 26: Arch political rivals in West Bengal, the Trinamool Congress and Left Front today demanded stalling of bifurcation of eastern railway saying its division would jeopardise national unity. Trinamool Congress which strongly opposed the bifurcation, expressed hope that the union cabinet, scheduled to meet on Monday would take a 'right' decision taking into consideration all aspects.

TC policy-making body chairman Pankaj Banerjee told newsmen here that the railway bifurcation would be detrimental to national unity.

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He said that several former chairmen of the railway board as well as the Rakesh Mohan committee and railway standing committee had opposed the bifurcation and creation of new zones. Stating that the railways symbolised 'Indianness', the ruling Left Front at a meeting of its committees said that the Vajpayee government was out to destroy national unity and create a rift between states.

The front also demanded that the bifurcation be stalled and an expert committee appointed to look into it. The Centre should convene a meeting of the inter-state council on the issue, it said.
Bureau Report