Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M)’s senior leader Sitaram Yechury has accused railway minister Mamata Banerjee of plotting the hijack of the Rajdhani Express.

He said the train, which runs at a speed of 120 kms per hour, was stopped without any obstruction in its track by Maoist-backed tribals .


Hundreds of tribal people allegedly backed by the Maoists on Tuesday intercepted one of India’s fastest trains-Rajdhani Express- and took its driver hostage in West Bengal demanding release of their arrested leader but the police took control of the train after five hours.

The incident occurred at Banstala station near Jhargram in Maoist-dominated West Midnapore district.

The tribal outfit, 'Janasadharaner Committee', who held the driver and the passengers hostage, were demanding the release of leader of tribal body-People’s Committee against Police Atrocities (PCPA)-Chhatradhar Mahato, who is 'actually an erstwhile Trinamool Congress activist', the CPI-M leader accused.

The CPI-M also claims that as the Trinamool Congress desperately wants to win the 2011 Assembly elections, Banerjee is banking a lot on the Maoists, reports CNN-IBN.

“Mamata’s complicity with the disruptive forces is very clear so her words have no credibility,” said CPI-M leader Prakash Karat.

Video: Rajdhani passengers question security on train

However, Congress stood by Trinamool Congress and its leader.

Brushing off the Left’s claims as preposterous, Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi said, although in a democracy each person has the freedom of speech, it is important for political parties to exercise a sense of responsibility.