While the CPM politburo today grudgingly welcomed some of “positive measures’ for the poor in Mamata Banerjee’s Railway budget, CPM leader and maverick Minister Subhas Chakraborty today ridiculed the proposed Rs 25 monthly ticket for those with an income of Rs 1,500 a month, saying there was hardly anyone with an income as low as this in the state where the average monthly income is Rs 5,000.

Though the politburo criticised Banerjee for “serious deterioration of performance”, it welcomed the proposal for the cheaper monthly ticket for the economically weak and other schemes proposed for the benefit of SCs/STs, physically challenged and minorities.

“This contradiction in the approach of the Railway Minister overshadows some of the positive measures announced in the Railway Budget 2009-10 like no hike in passenger fares, Rs 25 monthly ticket for people earning less than Rs 1,500 per month or a special recruitment drive to fill up vacancies in railway posts for SC/STs, physically challenged, minorities and women,” the politburo said.

Chakraborty, however, mocked the proposal saying it would be very hard to trace people who travel by train daily but earn less than Rs 1,500 a month. “The average income of the people here is about Rs 5,000 a month,” he said. The Trinamool Congress was quick to react. The leader of the Opposition Partha Chatterjee said Chakraborty has no idea about the condition of the people in the state.

“Mamata has introduced the scheme so that even those from the poorer section will be able to travel by train regularly. Is he (Chakraborty) or his party serious about the the poor in the state?” the Trinamool leader asked.

... contd.