Leave alone the Opposition, railway employees are demanding the resignation of Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal, saying it is important to maintain staff morale for smooth and safe running of trains.
All-India Railwaymen’s Federation general secretary Shiva Gopal Mishra has shot off a letter to the Cabinet Secretary and expressed anguish at the political backing for the Minister when people found guilty of accepting just Rs. 10 as bribe stood suspended.
Referring to the arrest of Mr. Bansal’s nephew for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs. 90 lakh to secure a top post for a Railway Board member, Mr. Mishra said there should be no double standards in tackling corruption and he should not continue in office while the inquiry was under way.
The Minister should first come clean and should the CBI give him a clean chit he would have no objection to his elevation even to the post of President, said Mr. Mishra. The expose had demoralised the 14-lakh Railway employees who worked honestly round the clock.
“It is the duty of the administration to keep the morale of the working force high and that is possible by ensuring that those at the lower level are not subjected to injustice and repression.”
In his letter, Mr. Mishra spoke against the practice of keeping posts vacant right from the bottom to the top which gave room for corruption and discrimination. He demanded that all vacant posts be filled forthwith so that there was no room for speculation.
