Legal showdown averted as E.Rly apologises to Basu

By Our Special Correspondent

CALCUTTA, SEPT. 28. A major confrontation between West Bengal's ruling communists and the Railway Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo, Ms. Mamata Banerjee, was averted today when the Eastern Railway tendered an apology to the Jyoti Basu Government over an advertisement which appeared in the city's leading dailies this morning.

The Eastern Railway advertisement appearing in the form of ``an appeal to the flood-affected people,'' said, ``We understand your sentiments and resentment for relief not having been provided to you by the State Government but appeal to you, not to hamper railway efforts/work for restoration of damaged rail lines as it will affect lakhs of your brothers similarly affected by the floods.''

At a press conference, the general manager, Eastern Railway, Mr. I.I.N.S. Rana, said a ``corrected version'' of the controversial advertisement would be published tomorrow to clear the misunderstanding.

Earlier in the day, the Chief Minister, Mr. Jyoti Basu, threatened to take legal action against the Eastern Railway taking serious exception to the advertisement.

Talking to newspersons, Mr. Basu lashed out at Ms. Banerjee for accusing the Government on Wednesday of trying to use the floods as a ploy to divert the nation's attention from the deteriorating law and order situation in Bengal.

``She is not only a violent woman but also a liar. She has stooped so low,'' he said adding that the railway officials had thought of such an advertisement only to please Ms. Banerjee.

Senior CPI(M) leader and MP, Mr. Somnath Chatterjee, who met Mr. Basu today later told newspersons that he would take up the issue with the Prime Minister, Mr. A.B. Vajpayee and also raise it in Parliament.

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Section  : National
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