BJP demands higher compensation for railway blast victims

Kolkata, Nov 23 (UNI) The BJP's West Bengal unit today lambasted the Railway Ministry for announcing a ''meagre'' compensation for the victims of Monday's Belakoba train blast in North Bengal.

In his first interaction with mediapersons after taking over as state party president on Sunday, Sukumar Banerjee said it was 'very unfortunate' that unlike elsewhere in the country, only Rs 15,000 was announced for the next of kin of the seven killed and only Rs 5,000 for each of the 60 injured. He demanded immediate hike in the compensation package to Rs 100,000 each for the dead and Rs 50,000 for the injured.

A party delegation led by BJP state general secretary Rahul Sinha had already left for the spot and would submit a report to the party's central leadership regarding the 'inept' handling of rescue and relief operation, Mr Banerjee added.

Referring to the ruling parties' 'attitude towards the opposition' in the state, he said despite securing almost 50 per cent votes in the last assembly polls, the opposition parties were not being given ''due recognition'' by the ruling Left Front which was ''taking all decisions unilaterally, violating democratic norms.'' He cited the example of the Panchayat Amendment bill which was passed in the assembly yesterday without any discussion and described it as a 'dangerous trend'.

Also criticising the state government for allegedly appeasing the minorities, Mr Banerjee said his party might launch a statewide movement against this trend soon.

UNI ABA PL VD BD1858