Even as news of the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress? spectacular victory in polls to West Bengal?s local bodies started trickling in, Congress circles were abuzz with speculation about the price to pay. Almost immediately, it seemed, the price was extracted: a CBI probe was announced into the railway tragedy in West Midnapore last week, when the Jnaneshwari Express derailed and collided with a goods train allegedly following a bomb blast by Naxals.
Banerjee had been vociferous in demanding a CBI probe, alleging that a probe by the state government?s CID would be prejudicial and might unfairly implicate Trinamool workers.
The home ministry had been resisting a CBI probe and had said that West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee had assured them that the state CID had almost completed its probe, following which action could be taken.
Now, with Mamata Banerjee?s clout having soared with this victory, an unknown provision of a 1948 law has been cited to order a CBI probe. Technically, a CBI probe can be ordered only after ascertaining the wishes of the state government, but in the 1948 law, which pertains to the Indian Railways, the matter is under the purview of the Centre.
?Since railways is a department of the Central government, this law states that any investigation of damage to railway property is directly under the purview of the Centre,? said a source in the home ministry.
Sources also claim that this may not be the only pound of flesh which Banerjee will extract after proving that the Congress has no option but to tie up with her in the state elections next year. ?If she was absent before, she will be more so now. She will also insist that the Central government take a more confrontational line with the state government,? said a Congress leader.