Pet projects derailed, Paswan fumes

But after Nitish Kumar became the railways minister, he reviewed the projects and even said that the projects were not feasible any more. Kumar went on record that Paswan had announced the projects before clearance by the board. The technical feasibility of the projects was still being verified.

Both the projects launched by Paswan have been languishing for couple of years. He had pinned hopes on Mamata Banerjee. But since she does not have any political interest in these projects, Mamata has been maintaining assiduous silence.

Recently, instead of giving a final touch to the projects, the Railways Minister initiated moves to do away with the zonal office. The sources maintain the ministry has relied on the report of the parliamentary committee which had criticised Paswan for creating six new zonal offices out of the existing nine.

The move to dismantle the zonal office is being met with resistance in Hajipur. On Wednesday, the local people obstructed movement of trains on Hajipur track. Yesterday also, Paswan’s supporters were out on the streets protesting.

In fact, Paswan personally has been quite irked with this move of the railways. During his visit to Hajipur on August 4, he cautioned the officials against any such step. He said it was wrong to say the zonal office was an unviable project. He said funds were available for Ganga bridge, but no effort was being made to go ahead with the project.

Paswan’s political survival depends on the execution of these projects. His Dalit Sena men are gearing up to intensify the movement. Paswan will be arriving here on August 13 to visit the flood affected areas of Hajipur, Mahnar. Sena activists who have already launched the movement, await his advice.

Secretary of Sena Dinanath Kranti said that they would fight back any move to close the projects. He said: “Any attempt to ignore his projects or even to dilute them would not be tolerated. Sena people are ready to launch agitation.”

Sena men are simply reiterating the sentiments of Paswan, who on August 4, warned not to dilute the projects launched by him. At a public function, he openly charged “vested political interests” with hampering completion of the projects. Paswan had pointed out that on the one hand Government was arguing that new railway zones were economically unviable, at the same time Prime Minister was laying foundation stone of a zonal office at Bilaspur.

JD(U) leaders and legislators who are supporters of Paswan are in the mood to resign from their offices over the projects.