Kolkata bridge collapse: Parties indulge in shameless blame game to convince voters

An under-construction bridge has collapsed in a congested area in Kolkata and before even a few cranes could reach the spot to pull out those trapped under the debris, political blame game has started. [Several killed in Kolkata bridge collapse]

Union minister Babul Supriyo and BJP's West Bengal in-charge Kailash Vijavargiya directly blamed the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) government for the tragedy. The saffron party held the ministers responsible. TMC MP Derek O'Brien on the other hand, tweeted that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee cancelled her election rally and headed to the city to be present by those hit by the tragedy. [Kolkata bridge collapse: Emergency Nos.]

I blame you, you blame them: Just because we all need votes

The CM also gave her defence saying the structure was sanctioned during the time of the Left Front in 2008. She said this soon after arriving on the spot with the city mayor Sovan Chatterjee standing behind. The ruling party had similarly blamed the Left after a chunk of another flyover in the eastern part of the city had collapsed a few years ago.

The Congress, on the other hand, said the relief team had taken a long time to reach out to the distressed, wasting some precious time. It was even more shocking to see a Congress leader visiting the accident spot with his party flag wrapped around him. Was he campaigning at the tragedy site?

The BJP is blaming the TMC and the latter, the Left. This is precisely what the politics in a poll-bound state is reduced into: a sham.

Are we so shameless that even at this moment of tragedy, we think about elections only?

Is politics in this country only an issue of winning and losing elections? Don't the parties, who claim to be working for the people, have the minimum responsibility of standing by each other's side to look after the people, who afterall give them the power to rule, at this time of distress? Why don't the parties, instead of targeting each other's leadership, demand punishment of those evil constructors who care little for human life while building these killer structures?

Why paties are not united to demand punishment for the contrators/builders?

The problem with these parties is that they are dependent on syndicates and promoters to oil and run their organisations. Particularly during elections, they are the people who come to the rescue of the parties the most.

Hence, taking action against those who serve as a key support to the party is quite difficult. It is far more easier to openly criticise the political opponents instead for public consumption.

But how long will the people of this country tolerate the practitioners of such evil exercise that we describe as electoral politics?