Why not file case of culpable homicide against ministers in

Attacking the Centre over a recent stampede at a railway station in Mumbai, the Congress today alleged the demand for an additional foot over-bridge there was "criminally neglected" and asked why a case of culpable homicide should not be filed against the ministers concerned.

Twenty-three people were killed in the September 29 stampede on a foot over-bridge (FOB) connecting two suburban railway stations of Parel and Elphinstone in Mumbai.

Stressing that accountability -- administrative and political -- needs to be fixed for the "tragic" incident, the Congress also demanded Railway Minister Piyush Goyal and his predecessor Suresh Prabhu need to come clear on the issue.
 

Speaking to reporters here, Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said the Shiv Sena MP from Mumbai-South constituency, Arvind Sawant, had on August 14, 2014, written to then Railway Minister Sadananda Gowada seeking FOBs at Parel, Curry Road and Chinchpokli suburban railway stations.

Singhvi alleged Prabhu, who took over from Gowda, replied to Sawant on February 20, 2016, blaming "adverse effects of global slowdown" for the delay and added that "despite the slowdown" the demand was under "active consideration". Prabhu is holding the commerce porfolio at present.

"This is nothing short of criminal negligence. (Responding) after two years, Prabhu told Sawant that the proposal was under active consideration...This is not only a man-made disaster, but culpable homicide," Singhvi said.

He asked, "Why file FIR against railway employees only? Why not against ministers in-charge?"

Singhvi also alleged that out of the Rs 12 crore sanctioned for renovating the existing FOB at the Parel- Elphinstone stations, railway officials allotted only Rs 1,000.

"On one hand, there are photo-ops for bullet train...on the other, only Rs 1,000 is sanctioned for renovating the bridge...if not murder, it calls for registering culpable homicide case minimum," he said.

The Congress leader alleged that Mumbai Police and its railway counterparts "argued over jurisdiction" after the incident occurred instead of coordinating over probe into the matter.

"Personnel from both the forces were seen taking measurements on the bridge to decide the area of jurisdiction...it is a sad, but tragic affair," Singhvi said.