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Off late, she is busy in just reacting to what her own members have been dishing out to her or the ‘aam janota’ (masses). The latest of course is the budget speech and proposal made by her very own confidante, Dinesh Trivedi, who succeeded her to the Minister for Railways in the current Trinamool supported UPA Government.
What transpired after the budget speech, Mamata seems to be less amused by the way Dinesh Trivedi has proposed on the fare adjustments in Railways for the next fiscal. As per the proposal, a marginal hike in the railway fare is imminent. This does not have the endorsement of the Trinamool Party Chief. What is appalling is that this was realized by the Trinamool camp only after Dinesh Trivedi had concluded his budget speech in the Parliament. The question which looms large is that why was the party not taken into confidence by the Minister for Railways upon such a proposal. It seems to be evident that Mamata had no interference on Dinesh Trivedi’s budget proposal and the latter thought it wise to prepare the document in consultation with the Prime Minister, Finance Minister and (probably) with some of the eminent Congress members. All said and done, Dinesh Trivedi would have done a world of good had he consulted his own Party members while going ahead with the budget proposals. Even a person with zero knowledge in the current political affairs of the country would not have endorsed such a move. Mamata, as a Cheif, is answerable for all actions (or in-actions) by her party-men. The media and her oppositions was looking for a scope and now they had with them, what is being termed as, the most “captivating drama” in the history of Indian Parliamentary democracy. Agreed, the oppositions would not be showering kind words on Mamata or her men on this account. However, what followed next was even more interesting.
Within minutes after the speech, the media aired the news that the Railway Minister was being sacked for his unprecedented stance and Mukul Roy, another confidante of Mamata and Minister of State for Shipping in the current Government, was being projected as a replacement for Dinesh Trivedi.
I feel there should have been a definite timeline before such a move was even thought about. Time is the best healer. All hue and cry arising out of the rise in railway fares would have subsided after the general budget for the next fiscal and due within 48 hours. The TMC party would have had enough time to reconcile and share their stance with the onlookers on the railway budget.
Mamata could have played the situation to her own favor had she taken her time in airing her views or letting the world know what exactly she was thinking about. With her knee-jerk reaction, her opposition camp now has a reason to pressurize the UPA government to roll-back the railway budget proposals for FY 2012-13 as Mamata has herself expressed her ill-feelings with them. This, in itself, will do more harm and will not go well within her own circles.
Was Dinesh Trivedi wrong in proposing a hike in the Railway fares?
To state that Dinesh Trivedi has misunderstood the situation and have wrongly proposed for fare hikes is far from true. This truly is, to the best of my belief. We need to consider the economic backdrop under which the proposals are being made:
a) The Center needs fund to undertake activities, not only related to railway projects but also for development of supporting infrastructure.
b) Every penny collected from each and every source would have contributed to the kitty and made it easy for the Finance Minister, when making his budget proposals for the next Fiscal before the parliament.
c) Though every hike in fares are condemned by all circles, the public would not have carried on the grudge to the marginal hike in the railway fares, after so many years. This is in spite of accounting for the steady inflation rates over the last few quarters.
d) It would have reduced the burden on revenue collections from other sources, to some extent.
e) On the lighter side, Mamata would have had plenty of reasons to sanction funds for local clubs or illicit liquor deaths (considering that what happened a few months back was not the last event in history and such incidents would continue to occur even for days to come), with a strong funding source.
It is beyond doubt that Dinesh Trivedi should be allowed to continue with his proposals instead of being asked for a roll back. Mamata is emotional and her reactions are always the outcome of her initial feelings. This is not always true when politics is concerned. As a matured politician, which she is, it is expected that her views and reactions would be more reserved and would not compel her party to issue clarifications to the media upon her comments. Such recurrences will only tarnish her and her party’s image with her followers.
It is time that Mamata should come to her senses and appreciate that she is more than a party chief. She should be able to resolve at least eighty percent of her problems if she refrains from making hurried statements. It would do her no harm if she expresses to comment on all such matters at “appropriate time”. This is one habit which she should inculcate without fail, to rein in peace and concentrate on activities for which she is seated.
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