West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who earlier had suggested Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M)'s hand in the Jnaneswari Express sabotage, on Wednesday, made an U-turn blaming Naxals for the same.
“Maoists killed 160 people in Jnaneswari incident. This is proved now. They are on a killing spree,” Banerjee said addressing a rally.
“The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) report submitted in the case before the court, prima facie, pointed out Maoists' involvement,” she added.
Earlier, then union railway minister, Banerjee had slammed the CPI-M for demanding her resignation over the accident. Pointing out that the mishap took place on May 28, two days before the Kolkata Municipal Corporation election, she had said, “CPI-M has been planning sabotage to ruin the reputation of Railways.”
Banerjee, once seen as Maoist sympathiser, has been talking tough after fresh Naxal violence in the state. Describing the ultras “more dangerous than terrorists”, she said, “You cannot talk peace and kill people. We cannot sit back and watch. We have to maintain law and order.” The joint security forces have also stepped up anti-Maoist operations in the last couple of days, in Junglemahal area in Purulia and West Medinipore districts of. the state.
Meanwhile, Leader of opposition and CPI-M leader Suryakant Mishra demanded a public apology from Banerjee. “Finally she has been forced to admit that the Maoists were involved. She has been forced because of the investigation reports point their involvement in the incident which she cannot deny. If she had come out with an apology that would have been mean she has realised her mistake. But she is yet to apologise,” he said.
Even, Congress leader Deepa Dasmunshi also took a dig at Banerjee, saying, “She made her previous comments as a responsible leader and now she has turned away from her earlier remarks. Hopefully, she will not make any more turnaround.”
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Amid criticism, Banerjee made a clarification on a Bengali news channel later in the day, saying, “Maoists were responsible for the disaster, but who had made them to do it ? We have our suspicion. It still remains. When this comes up in Court, this will be stated.”
During the accident in May 28, thirteen coaches of the Mumbai-bound Jnaneswari Express derailed between Khemasuli and Sardiha stations in West Medinipore district, shortly after which a goods train rammed into the derailed coaches killing 160 people.