Samata politics takes Rlys for a ride

The incident occurred on September 14, when Additional DRM of Malda Hemant Kumar questioned Mandal’s supporters, they reportedly misbehaved with him. Mandal also reportedly told Kumar that this happened all the time in political rallies, so why was he objecting. This is part of the detailed complaint that DRM Vijay Kumar Manglik has sent to Manohar Joshi.

Mandal had boarded the train at Patna and was on his way to Jamalpur, the nearest station to his constituency Monghyr. When contacted, he chose to put the blame on party politics. ‘‘I am being victimised by Nitish Kumar because I have been complaining against his dictatorial style of functioning. Just a day before the incident, I had given a written complaint to George Fernandes. I had also sent a complaint to the Prime Minister stating that Nitish Kumar had held three functions in my constituency but hadn’t invited me,’’ he said.

He claimed that his supporters had boarded the train at Kiul from where his constituency begins. ‘‘They had gathered at the station to express their support. I was heading towards Jamalpur so I invited them in the train. The railway officials were just acting on instructions of their master — to harass me,’’ he said. Railway Minister Nitish Kumar was unavailable for comment despite repeated attempts.