Ministers and MPs should push for Railway Zone in Kerala: BJP

Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 21 (UNI) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former minister of state for Railways O Rajagopal today demanded the ministers and Members of Parliament from the state to make joint efforts for a new Railway Zone in Kerala in the wake of Centre's decision to form a new Railway Division at Salem.

Talking to newspersons here, he suggested that besides the new Salem Division, Thiruvanathapuram and Palakkad Division should also be included in the new zone.

During the discussions in Parliament it was proved that the MPs had knowledge about the new Salem Division he said alleging that they were ''cheating'' the people of the state.

Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad's statement that the new Salem Division would be formed after discussions with Kerala and Tamil Nadu Chief Ministers, could not be taken into account, he said.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi had already declared that there was no need for talks on the Salem Division.

The formation of Railway Divisions on the basis of language was against the Railway's principles, he said.

UNI