Mamata flags off 2 new trains,takes a dig at Left

“If you want to challenge me,you are free to do so politically. But don’t go for anything which might disturb the functioning of the railways,” Banerjee said.

Mamata was speaking at the Sealdah railway station where she flagged off Sealdah-Ajmer Sherif Express and New Farakka-Nabadwipdham Express,which will run everyday.

Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee,who was also present on the occasion,lauded the railway minister. “Initially,there was doubt over Mamata’s plan to introduce so many new trains. It’s not even been three months since she presented the railway budget during the first week of July. But she has kept her promises and introduced a number of new trains,” he said.

The railway minister also urged the CPM to join in the railway functions though no invites for today’s function were sent out to Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee.

Banerjee,who has not been using salons meant for railway ministers,said her ministry has been the first to launch austerity measures. “Our railway department is the first to launch austerity drives. We have cut foreign trips by half,” she said. “A set of restrictions,including stays in five-star hotels,have been imposed to curb wastage of money,” she added.

Pranab practises what he preached

With austerity the flavour of the recession season,Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee flew to Kolkata on an economy-class ticket in a budget airline,but made no fuss about it.

“This is nothing new for me. During the election time or even when I travel on commercial flights,I travel by economy class most of the time. Today is no different,” said the minister,who is expected to return to New Delhi on Sunday on an economy-class ticket on an Air India flight.

According to sources,Mukherjee may cancel his visit to Cyprus for a Commonwealth Ministers’ meeting for which he had planned to go by a special aircraft. They said even if he flies abroad for a World Bank meeting in Turkey sometime later,he would fly ordinary class.