Tear-ing their way

It seems tears act as a key catalyst in getting approval for projects in the railways ministry. Last year, Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee broke down in a Cabinet committee meeting, which forced Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee to give a green signal to all the Budget proposals by Banerjee. This time, BJP MP Rama Devi suddenly started crying in the Lok Sabha during the debate on the railway Budget. When some fellow MPs brought it to the notice of Banerjee, the railway minister immediately called her to her office. The MP said she wanted to place a demand for a stoppage at her constituency for some express trains, but she was not allowed to participate in the discussion. Banerjee immediately called her OSD and an order was signed for the stoppage.