Kolkata: After having blamed the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) for the Jnaneswari Express sabotage last year, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday did a complete turn around by holding the Maoists responsible for the accident.
"You all know that the Maoists perpetrated the Jnaneswari sabotage which killed over 160 people, this fact has now been proved by the investigations," said Banerjee addressing a rally in Kolkata.
"The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) report submitted in the case before the court, prima facie, pointed out Maoists' involvement," she said.
Following the accident on May 28, 2010, Mamata who was then railways minister had pointed her fingers at CPI-M claiming its party cadres were "scientifically sabotaging the railways" and demanded a CBI investigation into the matter.
Leader of opposition and CPI-M leader Suryakant Mishra demanded a public apology from Mamata.
"Finally she has been forced to admit that the Maoists were involved. She has been forced because the investigation reports points to their involvement in the incident which she cannot deny. If she comes out with an apology that would mean she has realised her mistake. But she is yet to apologise," said Mishra.
Congress leader Deepa Dasmunshi, taking a dig at Mamata, said, "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."
Mamata later made a clarification on a Bengali news channel, saying "Maoists were responsible for the disaster, but who had made them to do it? We have our suspicion. We cannot state this without evidence."
"Many killings have taken place in the name of Maoists. They have links with the CPI-M. During the last regime, many people including Eastern Frontier Rifle jawans at Shilda and an officer-in-charge in a police station in West Midnapore district lost their lives at the hands of the Maoists," Mamata told the channel.
On her accusing the CPI-M for the incident,Mamata said, "We had certain amount of suspicion. It still remains. When this comes up in court, this will be stated."
Thirteen coaches of the Mumbai-bound train jumped the tracks between Khemasuli and Sardiha stations in West Midnapore district, shortly after which a goods train rammed into the derailed coaches, leading to the deaths.
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