As far as I am concerned, the greatest threat to India’s security (this includes the Indian Railways) is the CPM. That’s the reason I wanted the home ministry. “The red dragon cannot be slain with a railway wagon.” Those will be the first lines of the first poem I write in 2011. So, beyond what Khurana says, safety and security is Shri Chidambaram’s responsibility. But I will say this. Since 83 per cent of train accidents are caused by human error, we need more institutes for HR-training and I am appalled that barring Jamalpur, no existing centralised railway training institute is located eastwards beyond Lucknow. It is a paradox that in the recent past, all Railway ministers have been from eastern India and the east continues to be the most deprived region. I therefore propose to set up the Indian Railway Institute for Safety and Security in West Medinipur, with Lalgarh as the catchment area. The uniform for male trainees will be dhoti-kurta, while that for female trainees will be dhonekhali saris. It is also important that 1.4 million members of the Railway family be rewarded for their efforts. Recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission will be implemented with retrospective effect from January 1, 2006.

I have used as a benchmark share prices for Tata Motors and I think average salary increase should be 60 per cent. This will raise financial issues, but that’s not really my expertise. That’s the reason I am ably supported by two ministers of state. Anything outside West Bengal represents external affairs to me. Indeed, I am constrained to spend four days every week in West Bengal. Shri E. Ahamed has considerable expertise in external affairs and he will thus deal with all Railway affairs in Delhi. Similarly, Shri K.H. Muniyappa has expertise in shipping, road transport and highways and he will deal with all multi-modal affairs. My predecessor has financially hoodwinked the country and, as promised, I will produce a White Paper on this. However, there is one valuable lesson I have imbibed from him. Do what you broadly want and leave the rest to experts. And human face means we cannot increase passenger fares, not in this period of downturn. If I do that, someone will go and squat in the well of the House. With so many new faces in the Lok Sabha, I need to remind those who weren’t here in 1996 that this is a right reserved for me. However, the number of coaches on passenger trains will be increased from 24 to 32 (and on minor trains from 18 to 24). This will increase costs by 28 per cent, but will increase revenues by 78 per cent.

... contd.