Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
Amritsar
The victims and families affected by the last year’s Dasehra train tragedy have decided to boycott all political parties.
Reason: The government has failed to fix the accountability of any department and give jobs and monetary assistance to the victims and families of the deceased persons.
All such families have pasted posters in Krishna Nagar, warning candidates of all parties to stay away. Written in Punjabi, the poster reads, “Rail pidat hadse ch Insaaf na hon karke es Ilaake vich koi v party vala votan mangan na aave kyonki anderkhate tusi sab iko hi ho.”
After the incident, several inquiries were conducted by the Railways, state government and SITs, but none came up with any logical conclusion.
At least 59 persons were killed and 72 were injured when a speeding train ran over a crowd of Dasehra revellers at Joda Phatak in the city.
Swarn Kaur, who had lost her 32-year-old son Dalbir Singh, said, “My son saved the lives of at least 15 persons by pulling them off the track, but end up sacrificing his life. The CM had promised to provide job to my other son, but in vain. Cabinet minister Navjot Singh Sidhu too turned indifferent. No party came forward to help us. We have decided to boycott them.”
The government had given Rs 5 lakh each to the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 each to the injured, besides free treatment.
Another victim Monica said, “I lost my husband in the incident. He was the only breadwinner for the family. I too got injuries on my stomach and neck. As I was discharged from the hospital, the doctors refused to entertain me till I pay the fee and medicine expenses. I had to shell out Rs 40,000 for my treatment.”
Vijay Kumar, who had lost his son, said “All politicians are the same. Sidhu and his wife had announced to give monetary help of Rs 8,000 per month each to the affected families, besides bearing the education expense of children, but in vain. We have now stopped approaching the leaders.”
