Daijiworld Media Network

New Delhi, Jul 12 : The recent tragedies that hit the Railways with the derailment of Kalka Mail reportedly due to the sudden application of brakes followed by a blast in the Guwahati Express, have once again brought Manmohan Singh under attack.

Launching a direct attack on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, BJP said that ever since Mamata Banerjee vacated the post, the Railway ministry has not been given proper attention.

"The ministry is orphaned and not paid any attention, and the Prime minister Manmohan Singh is responsible for this fiasco," BJP spokesperson J P Nadda told reporters on Monday, July 11.

"In the past, including during UPA I,  Lalu Prasad and Mamata Banerjee were given the portfolio. If Lalu gave 'inflated' statements and figures to public, Mamata was never interested in Railways, rather her eyes were on West Bengal chief ministership. She even shifted the railway board office to Kolkata," Nadda accused.

He ridiculed the current railway minister of state, Mukul Roy for taking the Kalka Mail tragedy lightly, and said, "Despite the occurence of such a serious accident, the minister of state for railway never bothered to visit the accident spot."

Nadda accused the centre for scrapping the project to rebuild tracks and bridges which were planned during NDA regime when Nitish Kumar was Railway minister. He also said that, atleast 1,00,000 jobs related to traffic and security are still vacant.

The two train derailments have taught a lesson to the centre, and the ministry which is expected to be expanded on Tueday evening is surely to name a new cabinet minister for Railway.

Mukul Roy, who is currently holding the minister of state for railways is reportedly tipped by Mamata Banerjee for the cabinet post.

But his recent reluctance to visit the accident spot, even defying the PM's orders, has earned him criticism from the media and the opposition.