The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Sunday, July 14, 2002, Chandigarh, India

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Railway issue back with Cabinet
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 13
Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee tonight decided to call a meeting of the Cabinet to invite fresh thinking on the controversial issue of bifurcation of Eastern Railway a day before the monsoon session of Parliament.

The much-awaited weekend decision was taken after Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani, Union Railway Minister Nitish Kumar and NDA convener and Defence Minister George Fernandes exchanged views with Prime Minister at his residence.

Putting an end to the seemingly endless speculation and suspense on the Railway Minister’s announcement on reorganisation of railways, Mr Fernandes told mediapersons, “Whatever is under dispute will be placed before the Cabinet at its next meeting. The Cabinet will take a decision on the matter. Since the original decision was taken by the Union Cabinet, it has to go back to the Cabinet.’’

Asked whether the Cabinet would review the entire issue of reorganisation of railways, Mr Fernandes remarked, “Review is too big a word”.

He said the Railway Minister had made a presentation on the contentious issue of bifurcation of Eastern Railway headquartered in Kolkata. He, however, refused to comment on the stance taken by Mr Nitish Kumar at the meeting.

Advani formula may settle railway row
Subhrangshu Gupta

Kolkata, July 13
A compromise formula prepared by Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani for resolving the dispute over the bifurcation of Eastern Railways will aim at re-constituting the new East Central Railway with its headquarters at Hajipur, allowing Dhanbad to remain within Eastern Railways’ jurisdiction.

Instead, the new railway will get Danapur, Mughal Sarai, Samastipur, Sonepur and part of Malda ( Bhagalpur section) and part of Katihar division and Eastern Railway get the remaining part of Malda and Katihar, along with its existing other divisions, including Dhanbad.

According to Railway Board officials, Mr Nitish Kumar has accepted Mr Advani’s compromise formula, which they feel, will also be acceptable to both Chief Minister, Buddhadev Bhattacharjee and Trinamool Congress leader, Mamata Banerjee.

The compromise formula will be discussed and finalised at the NDA’s crucial meeting tomorrow in New Delhi, according to information reaching the Chief Minister, from New Delhi. The Trinamool Congress has also received similar information from the Prime Minister’s office.

Ms Mamata Banerjee has left for New Delhi to be present at tomorrow’s NDA meeting, which will also finalise the nomination of the candidate for Vice-President’s post. Dr Abdul Kalam will take over as the country’s new President after the presidential poll on July 15.

The Trinamool Congress observed a token protest today after receiving the news of the compromise formula. Mr Sanjay Bakshi, MLA and president, TMC youth wing, said they would decide their future programme of agitation after seeing the outcome of tomorrow’s NDA meeting.

Ms Banerjee’s aides said there would be no problems for her now to return to the Cabinet, which she left as Railway Minister on the Tehelka issue on January 24.

According to sources, Ms Banerjee might join the Cabinet as Minister for Surface Transport with Cabinet rank, with Mr Sudip Bandopadhyya likely to get Communications under Mr Pramod Mahajan.

Another berth might go to Mr Ajit Kumar Panja, the rebel TMC MP, who had remained all through with the NDA. He might get Coal and Mines with independent charge.

Trinamool workers disrupt rail traffic

Kolkata, July 13
Four local trains were cancelled and 22 trains, including three long-distance ones, detained as Trinamool Congress activists blocked various routes under the Eastern Railway protesting against its bifurcation.

According to Eastern Railway sources, in the Howrah division party supporters squatted on the tracks at the Howrah station between 11.15 am 11.30 am, on the Bandel-Burdwan section at Pandua between 11.32 am and 11.42 am, at Memari between 10.35 am and 10.50 am and from 12.05 pm to 12.10 pm on the Bandel-Katwa section obstructing train services.

In the Sealdah division, blockades were put up on the mainline section on Sealdah from 10.08 am to 10.37 am, at the Bidhan Nagar Road station from 11.09 am to 11.28 am, at Khardah from 10.01 am to 10.15 am, at the Bongaon section at Barasat from 9.58 am to 10.25 am, at Dum Dum cantonment from 11.08 am to 11.16 am, at Sealdah South section at Ballygunge from 1105 am to 11.20 am and at Pairadanga from 10.11 am to 10.21 am. UNI