Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday demanded the resignation of Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav for failing to improve the safety standards in the railways, which has led to a spate of accidents in the last 10 months.
Addressing a press conference in New Delhi BJP general secretary Arun Jaitley said that the Centre should condemn the language the railway minister used against Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.
"The BJP strongly condemns the callous, indifferent and politically motivated action of Lalu in relation to the rail accident near Vadodara," he said.
Jaitley added, "In the past the railway ministers have either resigned or offered to resign owning moral responsibility over the rail accident. BJP demands the resignation of the minister."
He said that there was nothing new in Lalu's demand for President's rule in Gujarat. "He (Lalu) has been targeting the Gujarat government ever since the United Progressive Alliance came to power," added the BJP leader.
BJP also slammed Lalu for reaching the accident site late. "The accident took place at 3.30 am. Modi and his men reached the spot around 8 am but Lalu reached there only at 12 noon even though he could have reached there earlier," alleged Jaitley.
Lalu was attacked by Bajrang Dal workers at the accident site. The BJP leader claimed that a three-member team led by Sushil Modi would access the situation and collect facts about alleged attack.
He also expressed surprise over the hasty manner in which the political affairs committee meeting was called by Singh on Thursday night. "Instead of expressing concern over the accident the politicalisation of the accident seemed to be priority," he added.
On Uma Bharti's statements in Amarkanthak that she would not hesitate to take on her own party leaders, Jaitley said the party had taken note of it. "The fact that the party is not reacting is a reaction in itself," he said.
Also read:
Passengers injured in Sabarmati Express mishap out of danger
Train mishap: Lineman reports to authorities
Gujarat asked to file report on Lalu attack