Navjot Sidhu questions Centre over Amritsar train mishap, asks why was driver given clean chit

AMRITSAR: Caught in the controversy after at least 60 people were killed by a speeding train in Amritsar, Punjab Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu has questioned why the driver has been given a clean chit in the mishap. Sidhu also blamed the guard asking how was it possible that he was not able to see that the train was approaching.

"Railway engine, police, guards, tracks belong to Centre and FIR also has been lodged by the Centre. The driver was given a clean chit within 6 hours. Why has his name not been revealed? Is it possible that a train is approaching and the guards can't see it," Sidhu said.

Railways has said that no action will be taken against the driver of the train as he had managed to slow the train down to around 68 kmph from the speed of 91 kmph at which he was assigned to run. "The incident was not the Railways' fault. There was no lapse on our part and no action against the driver will be initiated," Minister of State for Railways Manoj Sinha had said on Saturday. The Punjab and Railway Police had detained the driver and questioned him regarding the mishap. 

The driver in his statement said that he was given a green signal after which he proceeded on the route. 

The driver has already said that he knew that people were killed but had to keep driving for the safety of the passengers onboard the train. He said that he applied the emergency brakes while continuously blowing the horn yet some people came under the train.

"I saw a crowd of people around the track. I immediately applied emergency brakes while continuously blowing the horn. Still, some people came under it. The train was about to stop when people started pelting stones, so I started the train for the safety of the passengers," the train driver said.