Trinamool Congress chief and Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday defended her decision to include members of the intelligentsia in railway committees by saying that they would continue to contribute to the development of the Railways.

Recently, the issue of members of railway committees enjoying payment and perks has come to the fore. “I have done the right thing. As a railway minister I can include members of the intelligentsia, artistes in my committee and they are paid according to government rules,” she said in an interview to Star Ananda.

She added: “The CPM is jealous that the railways are doing well and is therefore raising such issues. People like Saonli Mitra and Derek O Brian are qualified for the job. They are doing a great job for the Railways. Why should they not be there? I am proud of them.”

According to Banerjee, before this, the railway committees were defunct. “Money was wasted and the members did nothing but enjoy themselves. Now, these people are seriously working. They did not want to take money, but I insisted. They can make much more, but yet they have agreed to work for us,” she said.

Banerjee added that she believes that intellectuals and artistes should play a role in policy making. “They have much to give us,” she claimed.

Meanwhile, she negated Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharje’s claim that CPM supporters were attacked while on their way to his rally in East Midnapore. Bhattacharje has alleged that Trinamool supporters have vandalised 178 buses enroute to his rally venue. “Our supporters did nothing, they are not involved. Our party members did not show black flags to the chief minister. Maybe some other party has done it,” said Banerjee.

... contd.