Odisha Train Mishap: Ex-Railway Minister Dubs CBI Probe A Diversionary Tactic

New Delhi: A day after the railways recommended a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the deadly train mishap in Odisha’s Balasore district, the Congress on Monday dubbed the move a “diversionary tactic”.

Congress leader Pawan Bansal, who himself a former Railway Minister, said there is no logic behind handing over the probe into the accident to the CBI.

“Our party president (Mallikarjun Kharge) has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and as a person I agree to it. I fail to understand the rationale behind marking the inquiry to the CBI,” Bansal was quoted by IANS as saying.

Hitting out at the government, he said the Railway Minister himself had said on Sunday that there is an error in the electronic interlocking system, which controls signalling and enables the trains to move.

Hoever, in the evening Vaishnaw said that the Railway Board has recommended a CBI probe into the accident. Congress has demanded his resignation, citing several reports and audits that highlighted the lapses on part of Railways.

Earlier on Sunday, he also said that the accident happened due to a change in electronic interlocking. Who is responsible for the change in electronic interlocking will be known during investigation,” Vaishnaw had said.

The Congress leader further said that the interlocking system being used right now is a “highly computerised system”

“However, in recent months a senior officer of the railways has cautioned the government that such a thing (error in signalling) can happen,” Bansal said referring to the report by Railways citing signaling failure.

He said that the government is not telling the people about the “corrective measures” it has taken after the report submitted with the Railway Board, that the government is not addressing what is the report, what action it has taken and what action it took on the CAG audit report that was tabled in the house (Parliament).

Bansal, targeting the government, also said that there are several other factors like why less allocation of funds for safety, track renewal, why the amount spared for rail safety is not being spent.

“Therefore there are other factors and questions that the government is liable to answer and not let pass the buck that CBI should probe the train accident,” Bansal added.