Will respond to humiliation in rail budget: Mamata

Kolkata, July 9 (IANS) Slamming the central government over price rise, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee said her party would give a befitting reply to the NDA government for the way West Bengal was "deprived" and "humiliated" in the Railway Budget.

"So much of deprivation and humiliation... Trinamool will give a befitting reply," the chief minister told reporters in Burdwan.

Lok Sabha members of the Trinamool Congress and the BJP Tuesday clashed over the Railway Budget, leading to repeated adjournments in the house.

Following the adjournment, all Trinamool members trooped out of the house, alleging physical and verbal attacks by the Bharatiya Janata Party members.

Meanwhile, in Bengal, the ruling party launched state-wide rallies Tuesday evening to protest the budget as well as the alleged misbehaviour by BJP MPs.

Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan Wednesday appealed to all parties to ensure their members behave in the house.

Asked about the speaker's comment, Banerjee said: "I will not comment on the speaker's remark. But this is our democratic right. Bengal has been neglected. We want that those who are elected from Bengal... speak up for the common man whenever they are deprived."

Banerjee twice held the post of railway minister, once during the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led National Democratic Alliance government and later during the UPA rule under Manmohan Singh.

"Bengal has been neglected in the Railway Budget. When I was railway minister, I gave trains to all states. If we are denied our rights, we must snatch it," she said at a function in the district.

A visibly angry Banerjee also criticised the Centre for hikes in prices of essential commodities, fuel and rail fares.

"The Centre is hiking rail fare, prices of fuel and essential commodities. Kitchens are on fire because of increase in LPG price. How will people make their ends meet? Price rise is because of the Centre, not the state government," she said.

Stating that her party only works for the people and "not for personal gain", Banerjee emphasised that despite the fund crunch, her government will not seek "alms" from the Centre.

"We are receiving several investment proposals. We will not have to beg for alms. I believe in working hard for the people and not in possessing crores of money... you can't buy people forever with money," she said.