Didi: We aren’t beggars, want legitimate rights

Slamming the move to bring in FDI in railways as an attempt to sell out the country, West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC chief  Tuesday accused the Modi government of “humiliating” her state by “depriving and neglecting” it in the railway budget.
“West Bengal has never been so deprived and neglected. It has been humiliated by the new government,” Mamata said.

Alleging a vindictive attitude towards the state, Mamata said, “Only one weekly express train has been given for Bengal. I ask that it be withdrawn. We are not beggars. We do not want alms from the Centre. We want our legitimate rights,” she said.  The former railway minister said: “I am anguished. I am angry. Had I been there in Parliament today, I can’t imagine what I would have done.” “We will not sit idle,” she added.

Criticising the move to open the railways for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and Public Private Partnership, the TMC chief  supremo said, “Why did they not tell the people earlier about bringing FDI in defence and railways. Why now after the elections? They want to sell off the country.”

The TMC will hit the streets Wednesday onwards to protest against the budget.